“As we try to become acquainted with our heavenly Father through His word, angels will draw near, our minds will be strengthened, our characters will be elevated and refined. We shall become more like our Saviour.”1

To breathe the air of heaven and live the culture of godly compassion, we have to manifest in our character the reflection of Him whom we worship morning and evening. Jesus’ daily communing with God include the development of every part of His faculty that would be of help not only to Himself but also to others. Most of His dealings were with and to the poor. “He knew by experience their cares and hardships, and He could comfort and encourage all humble workers.”2 He was never too busy to reach out to others and show them the love of God in very concrete ways. He loved with the towel, washing the soiled feet of His disciples and wiping them with a love that served. He loved with a welcoming voice as He said to Zaccheus, “Come down; for today I must abide at thy house” (Luke 19:5). He loved with inviting countenance when He recognized what Simon Peter could become as He said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:16). To the woman caught in adultery, His healing love spoke, “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). His hurting love was shown when His whip powerfully drove the moneychangers out of the Temple. Most of all, He loved with a cross - an all-consuming love that can save us all!

George S. Schuler declared, “Out in the highways and byways of life, many are weary and sad; carry the sunshine where darkness is ripe, making the sorrowing glad; give as ’twas given to you in your need, love as the Master loved you, be to the helpless a helper indeed, unto your mission be true; make me a blessing, make me a blessing, out of my life may Jesus shine.”

What a powerful, soul-lifting song of our spirit echoes forth when we meditate on God’s mercy and love. The carnal self-centered ego in us transcends to a mind, body, and spirit centered instead on others. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). If we are thinking on agreeing with the Lord, we become spontaneously action-oriented. Suddenly we’ll be thinking of others as we think of Jesus. Sowing the good seed into our mind will eventually become “us.” Letting it grow will soon bring out a compassionate spirit, as well as health and prosperity. King Solomon surely had seen it when he said, “Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:21, 22). Truly as God heals us, we heal others and become bridge builders because we develop genuine concern for people. Why is this so? Is not Jesus the man for others? And we are called to be so as well. True reformers don’t just go around looking for someone on whom to dump spiritual truth and unpopular dogma such as vegetarianism, dress reform, and others. Such an attitude will turn most people off. If our concern for people is genuine, many will be drawn to Jesus like iron filings are drawn to the magnet. Jesus constantly invites people to share His life and to extend the invitation to others. Remember His visits to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus? He also visited the synagogue and had contact with the Pharisees and the publicans. Genuine and compassionate love is the key to sharing.

One aspect of sharing our faith is always underscored. This is the aspect of listening. We habitually see and hear people while we talk. We don’t listen as sensitively as we should. The reason is that we simply wait for the opportunity to spout the mouth. As a result, our communication does not penetrate deeply into other people’s life. Some of us are natural talkers. We may appear to listen but at the same time our mind is wandering instead onto something else, even when the person sharing is very important to us. This is where we need to halt and reevaluate our concern for true witnessing. We need to concentrate not only on the words of others, but also on the feelings behind those words. A compassionate communicator develops the silent gift of listening because his or her focus is knowing and understanding the need of others. Some people listen negatively. As soon as the person says something they don’t agree with, they interrupt and give correction. Other people listen selectively. They listen only to those that interest them. But with compassion in action, one will listen carefully to empathize within the person and find ways to alleviate his or her suffering and pain. By listening more than talking, we build bridges instead of blowing them away.

Doing good, showing love, doesn’t have to be some heroic action in a major crisis. Small opportunities often pass by unnoticed - taking a meal to a family when the father or mother is in the hospital, inviting a neighbor to share a social occasion, seeing a friend who is left alone or simply dropping by to listen to someone who is in the midlife crisis and depressed. Unfortunately, the thought that “I, too, actually have problems and needs even more than you do” hinders even the church from growing. Church members with a vision for spreading the gospel too often seem to miss their very own neighborhood.

One Sabbath afternoon, the brethren and I recalled a lesson that the Sabbath should not always be confined to the square world of the church building. We decided to visit the neighborhood. We brought with us the hymn book to sing and pray for each family east, west, north, and south of the church. Our unspoken message was: We care, God loves you, and what can we do to help? The families were astounded - receiving visitors like us in long sleeves during the sweltering hours of a warm afternoon. In their eyes we saw the meaning of their welcoming smile especially when we said that we were there to pray for their needs and healing. It took us only a few minutes to pray, pouring out our heart that God would listen and bless the whole family. One father said that his family really needed prayer because at that time he and his wife just had a serious domestic quarrel and they were not then on speaking terms. We left a few tracts, shared herbal medicines, and hugged the couple. They were both teary-eyed and started talking with each other again as they guided us out to the front yard.

Another family welcomed the prayer so much that the grandmother requested another prayer to be dedicated to the sick grandchild. There were still various family encounters we had, and each had an uplifting story. On each Sabbath walk, we had to endure long miles on a rugged, hilly road. But the prayer ministry sustained our physical strength and brought inner satisfaction to our heart. People did not see our weaknesses or our own troubles. Our neighbors only sensed the presence of the Lord in our life. Whenever we focus our thoughts on His service, prayers have power to touch other lives.

The world needs the sympathy, the prayers, and the assistance of God’s people. It needs to see Christ in the life of His followers. But the people of God are equally in need of opportunities that draw out their sympathies, give efficiency to their prayers, and develop in them a character like that of the divine Pattern. To provide such opportunities, God has placed among us the poor, the unfortunate, the sick, and the suffering. They are Christ’s legacy to His church. In this way, God takes away the dross and purifies the gold perfecting our character.

“Christ came to this earth to walk and work among the poor and suffering. They received the greatest share of His attention. And today, in the person of His children, He visits the poor and needy, relieving woe and alleviating suffering.

“Take away suffering and need, and we should have no way of understanding the mercy and love of God, no way of knowing the compassionate, sympathetic heavenly Father. Never does the gospel put on an aspect of greater loveliness than when it is brought to the most needy and destitute regions. Then it is that its light shines forth with the clearest radiance and the greatest power. Truth from the word of God enters the hovel of the peasant; rays from the Sun of Righteousness light up the rude cottage of the poor, bringing gladness to the sick and suffering.”3

To have a compassionate heart is a virtue that only comes from God. This is an awareness borne from a life of forbearance and sacrifice. It is often the mark of a child, youth, or adult reared in the heavenly influence of a Christian home. Through difficulties and trials the noble parents pass on to their children the legacy of a heart familiar with pain and suffering, a heart that will not hesitate to do good and pray for a soul in anguish. Further, the compassionate parents look beyond the present and try their best to save their children from future suffering, want, disease, and unfulfilled individuality. Considering this vision of responsible parenthood, every young lady and gentleman contemplating marriage should consider how they ought to space the birth and number of children they can nurture and educate. “Better than any other inheritance of wealth you can give to your children will be the gift of a healthy body, a sound mind, and a noble character. Those who understand what constitutes life’s true success will be wise betimes. They will keep in view life’s best things in their choice of a home.”4

A godly father practices and illustrates the stern virtues of patience, integrity, honesty, industry, and courage to his children. At the same time he combines authority with compassion, kindness and sympathy. Hence, as the children’s characters are firmly formed, in their hearts are developed the good influences of the father.

On the other hand, the mother who is quiet and uncomplaining while doing household chores, who respects and loves her husband and reveres God, will likely exemplify a compassionate spirit to the children. “Parents, be kind and gentle with your children, and they will learn gentleness.”5 The profession of being a reformer is worthless if there is no kindness, forbearance, and love at home.

These are the days of crisis for humanity. Social conditions in vast areas of the world have become appalling. Adultery, divorce, fornication, juvenile delinquency, drug addiction, malnutrition, suicide, and more are the evils that strike mightily at the home - the basic foundation of a society.

“We are in a world of sin and temptation; all around us are souls perishing out of Christ, and God wants us to labor for them in every way possible.”6

The mission of the home extends beyond its members. The Christian home is to be an object lesson, illustrating the excellence of true life principles. In it, Christ’s meekness and compassionate countenance are felt, and His gentle heart is diffused to every member. As the youth go out from such a home, the lessons they have learned are imparted to other households. Wherever seen, compassion in action attracts holy angels. “They come with praises upon their lips, and an answering strain is heard in heaven. Every deed of mercy makes music there. The Father from His throne numbers the unselfish workers among His most precious treasures.”7

“Let the world see that we are not selfishly narrowed up to our own exclusive interest and religious joys, but that we are liberal and desire them to share our blessings and privileges through the sanctification of the truth. Let them see that the religion that we profess does not close up or freeze over the avenues to the soul, making us unsympathizing and exacting. . . . We shall then see many souls following the light that shines from our precept and example.”8