Colossians 3:12 NASB
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
I have shared some things with you that are close to my heart, things that I am passionate about and ministry that keeps me going in awesome ways. I really do love what I get to do for a living and the people I get to do it with.
But some days are tough. This stuff is heavy in so many ways, and it is important to learn how to deal with my own heart when things get in unexpected. Go a little further because some times we let things into our heart that aren’t easy to deal with.
It is critical that we put on a “heart of compassion” so that we can give others what we have received from God. As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth when passing on to them the Lord’s supper he said that it was his responsibility to pass on to others what God had given to him. We have to give it all away. All that God has done for us and given to us is what we can give to others.
Some people are hoarders. A hoarder is a person who keeps everything and stuffs it all away for some later imagined use. They will often keep things that are useless, things that are most people’s trash, and much more. If we treat the things God has given us like that, we are totally wrong.
It is time to give it away. God has given us mercy. We ought to be merciful to those in need. God has soothed our pain and dealt kindly with our struggles. In turn we listen to the words of those suffering, pray with those who are down and lift those we are honored to be able to share with.
Again, there are some things that get a hold on our heart. Much of what takes hold of our heart is heavy and difficult. Because I am a pastor I love the people I am blessed to serve, and these people have my heart.
I listen to a man who has battled addiction for many years, but in the last few months he has come to realize how much God loves him. The passion this guy has for sharing with others and giving away the hope that God has given him is so real.
Another friends unwraps their heart revealing deep pain due to broken relationships. There are many people who are hurting and wounded in the situation. This is heavy. It breaks my heart. I want to be able to comfort those who are hurting and fix the situation. What I end up doing is simply being there, praying and encouraging these special people close to my heart.
I look at the physical pain that people are going through like a young person battling cancer, and their family is having a very hard time. We all deal with the situations of life differently. Often I wish that I could heal some one only to remember that God has a plan, and God’s plan is perfect. I don’t understand, and we must not make others think we have it all together. Really we are just as broken and hurting as those we deal with.
That is why we have to learn how to deal with the heavy things that are difficult. Our prayers need to be strong and always flowing. As a counselor I need to have a counselor that I can share my heart with. As a husband and father I cannot allow the heaviness to disconnect me from the most important people.
“A heart of compassion” is where it all comes together. Jesus is our example in how he loved people and how He stayed connected to His father. I am learning. Staying connected to God is not optional. Because this stuff is heavy we need the father!
Matthew 9:36 NLT
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
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