Day 53 · Live
Compassion that does not pass by
"And when he saw him, he was moved with compassion." — Luke 10:33
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, a priest and a Levite—religious men—saw the wounded man and passed by. They had the right theology but lacked compassion. It was the Samaritan—despised by society—who stopped, approached, and acted.
Jesus told this parable to destroy the idea that being religious is equivalent to being compassionate. Compassion is not a feeling; it is an action. It is not enough to feel pity. Compassion moves you to do something.
In your daily life, there are hurt people all around you. Not always with visible physical wounds. People who are emotionally wounded, lonely, lost, hopeless. And you have the choice that the characters in the parable had: pass by or stop.
Giving time to God sensitizes your heart to the needs of others. When you spend time with the compassionate God, you become more compassionate. When you experience His mercy, it is more natural for you to extend it.
Today, open your eyes. Who in your path needs you to stop?
Micro-message
Faith without compassion is empty religion. Compassion in action is living faith.
Prayer
Lord, I don't want to pass by. Give me eyes to see and heart to act when someone needs help. Amen.