As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.
Psalm 103:13-17
In the bleakness, we cling to this hope! Our God is compassionate. It is inherent in the incarnation. God did not withhold Himself afar off. Instead, Jesus divested Himself of His glory, allowing Himself to take on flesh so that He could be God WITH us – our Immanuel.
The great thing to remember is that, though our feelings come and go, His love for us does not. It is not wearied by our sins or our indifference and, therefore, it is quite relentless in it’s determination, that we shall be cured of those sins, at whatever cost to us, at whatever cost to Him.”
CS Lewis
In His compassion, He became one of us. He experienced the temptations we experience. He sat with sinners, related to their anguish, invited them to drink freely of the living water He offered them.
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down:
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown:
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.
~Charles Wesley, 1747
He invites us to follow His example. To have compassion in this Advent season for those who are sad, hurting, distressed, undone, overcome by the big questions in life. Jesus was all about dismantling the barriers, inviting us in to share in His kingdom. He invites us to dismantle barriers as well.
Yet this I call to mind
Lamentations 3:21-23
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
His compassion for us is His ultimate expression of love for us. See Him singing over you in love today. Know that as His eyes are watchful over us, He longs to converse with us, to teach and guide us, to lead us to Himself. We can trust His compassionate heart! And if we will lean into Him, we can reflect His compassion to those around us.
Father, we are overwhelmed by your great love and compassion for us. We lay our questions, concerns, fears, trials, every struggle at your feet and ask that you calm our hearts. Teach us to trust You, to accept with open hands each new day. Amen.
