During my prep time for the message this past Sunday, I read a familiar verse in a familiar parable. However, while reading it, I had an anything but familiar wake up call and it all hinged on one word.
The verse is found in the parable of the good Samaritan. This is what it says...But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. Luke 10:33 (KJV)
I read this verse and one word jumped up at me, the word ON. Now, on the surface it doesn't look like much but I believe this one word speaks volumes about the kind of Christians we are called to be. Why doesn't Jesus say the Samaritan had compassion for the man? Why does he say he had compassion on the man? He uses the word on because there's a huge difference between having compassion for someone and having compassion on them. Having compassion for someone is passive. It's a feeling and nothing but a feeling. Having compassion on someone is active and goes beyond just the initial feeling and results in action.
Having compassion for someone is saying, "My heart goes out to the kids in our community that can't afford school supplies." Having compassion on someone is saying, "My heart goes out to those kids so we're going to give away backpacks and school supplies to help them out." As a church, as believers, it's more important for us to have compassion on people...to take action and do something about the hurt and pain we see around us. Lord forgive us for simply having compassion for people and challenge us to start having compassion on them.
Show compassion on someone this week.
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