Greatest of These

“Put your love and compassion in my heart so I can show that to others.” 

June 13, 2020

I began to pray this prayer not even knowing what I was asking. Since then, God has shown me just how bold this request is. 

Jesus was every bit human and every bit God here on earth. His whole purpose was to redeem humanity, and he had to become human to do it. He was hot, cold, tired, frustrated, tempted, hungry, and sad. He experienced all human emotions, and he wept over the human condition. He knew we would have hope through His death. He knew it will all work out in the end. But He still wept in his humanity. 

When we begin to see people as Jesus sees them, our hearts break with compassion over the human condition. Brokenness within marriages and families, grief and sorrow over losses and death, depression and addictions that evoke helplessness, and abuse and exploitation of the vulnerable are some human experiences that elicit a response from us. Just because we believe in Jesus doesn’t automatically mean our responses will be filled with love and compassion. It takes us daily walking with Jesus and spending time with Him. While our natural response will always fall short, His love sets us free from labeling people, defending our beliefs and opinions, and saving face when we feel our views are threatened. When we see people as Jesus sees them, we love them. We can share their pain and cry with them. Perhaps, to view all people with the compassion of Christ would be to take on their burdens and walk beside them. That’s what Jesus did when he died. He took all the sin, brokenness, and sorrow upon himself. All of it. And gave us hope. 

While I’m going to continue praying for God to put His love and compassion in my heart, I realize now the depth of Jesus’ love and compassion can probably never be housed in my humanity. But it starts with me loving the people Jesus has put in my life. And it starts with you loving the people in your life. We all have different people and different callings, yet the purpose is the same. Love one another. Share hope and the gospel. Show His love and compassion. 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13