Identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives.

“Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:3)

“To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind-hearted, and humble in spirit” (1 Peter 3:8).

Who is My Neighbor? Luke 10:25-29 Lack of information is not really our problem. Neither is the biblical text difficult. Acting upon what it says, that is the hard part.

Jesus was not saying that all priests and Levites were bad. Typically they were compassionate people. Acts 6:7 Yet they can get busy and miss opportunities as well.

“I have learned that to make it my career, I have to put everything outside of work on indefinite hold”

How many times do we miss opportunities to show mercy because we “have to be somewhere else” or are so preoccupied with our own problems?

It is so easy to focus all our attention on what it feels like to walk in our own shoes.

A head filled with….. My own concerns, worries. My own list of things to do. My own deadlines and commitments. Head down, walking straight ahead.

Simple Lessons I can feel real sorry for someone and keep on walking. Compassion (10:33) involved coming over, helping, taking time out of his life, getting into the situation with the person in need and even opening up his wallet (10:34-35).

The Samaritan did leave the next day (10:35) The Samaritan did leave the next day (10:35). Compassion does not mean forsaking my own family or spending all my time with someone in need, but it does mean doing something to help, getting the person in need to a place where they are not in danger any longer.

Real compassion does not stand aloof or remain at a distance Real compassion does not stand aloof or remain at a distance. Empathy fuels connection and actual human contact with those who are hurting.

It gets in the situation with them It gets in the situation with them. If someone is in a pit of despair, it comes down into the pit and says, “I have been here before myself, I know what it is like, I know what you are feeling, and you are not alone”. “I have time for you” Genesis 40:6-7

Jude 22 I understand your doubts. I have been there myself. There are answers to our questions.

There is nothing wrong about giving advice (Proverbs 9:8-9) but observe that empathy does far more than just give advice. With the man lying half-dead on the road, this was probably not the time to tell the man, “Hey, it’s not a good idea to travel on this road all by yourself”.

People might care more about what you are trying to tell them, if they sense that you care.

When people are hurting there is really no phrase or word one can say that will remove the suffering like a magic wand. What really helped this man was the connection with another human being who simply did what they could to help them in this crisis.

Also I am impressed with how Jesus informs us that compassion is not impossible. The Samaritan did not do anything impossible. He simply went over, bandaged the man and took him to an Inn.

Sometimes what prevents us from helping other people is either we think we are too busy, it is inconvenient, or we are not qualified to help.

“At Least” Being optimistic is good. Seeing the bright side and the silver lining. Hebrews 12:4 Hebrews 10:34 Genesis 50:20

Yet telling this man lying on the road, “Well, at least your family wasn’t with you” does not qualify as compassion. There is a time to find the silver lining, yet when in the moment there was something more pressing.

“That Was Me Once” Matthew 18:21-37 Observe how what seems so hard, is so basic and simple. Forgive others like God has forgiven you. Share the mercy. Share the compassion.

“We Know” What it is like to be lost. To be without God and hope. Ephesians 2:12 To be stumbling in the dark. To feel guilty and ashamed. How far it will take you: Jude 23

Becoming more and more convinced that you cannot change. Becoming more and more like me. The fear of admitting I need help.

Yet we have experienced the amazing joy and liberation of having been forgiven of all our sins. 1 Peter 2:1; Romans 8:1

Jesus is coming and they are completely unprepared. I know the answers to their problems, not because I am so smart, but because someone mercifully shared the truth with me.

Their problem is not just going to go away or things are not just going to get better in their lives without God. This is not one of those things that will just fix itself. Time will not heal this wound.

That’s a God problem. Only He can fix that.