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I sent my daughter, Charity, an email with some of my initial research on compassion. I wondered how it is different from love, as these are two distinct words in the Greek New Testament. I included several definitions from the Greek, but it still wasn’t really clear. Below is some of the awesome revelation she shared with me on her understanding of love vs. compassion. Looks like the surf’s up!

You see the actions of other people, but not the thoughts and intentions of their hearts from which these actions flow. This is reason enough not to judge people’s motives. Do you find it difficult to keep your mind from going there? Do you tend to assume the worst? There may be several possible motives for a given action. Intentional evil is the worst, but many things may be explained by ignorance. If you would be gracious then let your assumptions run to the most benign explanations. Don’t attribute to malfeasance that which can be explained by ignorance. It is better still not to attribute motive at all. 

Do you recognize my voice? You have my promise that my sheep will. One attribute of my voice is persistence. Do you seem to have a continuous stream of random thoughts that come and go without much notice? Yet do you also have thoughts that keep coming back, as if you were being intentionally reminded? Perhaps you are. You also have my promise that I will call all things into remembrance. I want you to be patient, and I display this quality myself. If I am serious about getting a point across to you I will repeat it as often as necessary.

I was standing in the young mans living room thinking; I can’t believe this guy called 911.  Terrible right?  Insensitive, I know.  It’s what I was feeling at the moment.  We’d been busy and I was tired. 

Have you encountered people who think that I was a good teacher and a good person, but are not willing to acknowledge my true identity? This may sound like a sympathetic position, but it is not even logically defensible. I must be better or worse than this. For I kept insisting that I was the Son of God. The prophets of old declared the truth of my coming and identity but they made no claim of deity for themselves. If Isaiah, Jeremiah, or Ezekiel had they had they would have been stoned and their words not included in the Bible. You cannot think of me only as a good teacher. If I wasn’t who I claimed to be I would be the biggest fraud of all time.  

Do you believe in the sun when it is not shining and in me when I am silent? Yet how often am I silent? You know me as the Living Word who was with God in the beginning, who was made flesh and dwelt among you. How shall I be silent? I spoke to my audiences and said he who has ears to hear, let him hear. All heard the same words but how many comprehended them? I spoke of the Kingdom of God and the things of the Spirit. These things are spiritually discerned and flesh and blood does not reveal them but my Father in heaven. Do not be discouraged by this but seek to receive and understand revelation for you have my promise that my sheep know my voice. 

“When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion
for them and healed their sick.” (Matt. 14:14 NASB)

Fatima is a young lady who has been treated in the dispensary for skin diseases and vaginal infection. We could not find any hope for her. Her body was not responding to the medicines for about a month. Perplexed we decided to visit her home, and we found out that she has been using the muddy water that runs by her little mud home. This canal is served to irrigate the rice field. Not having any access to safe water, she and her children have been using this water for everything: bathing, cooking and drinking.

Do you love me? How do you manifest this love? Do you do so by hating those who hate me? You may say that your friend’s enemy is your enemy also, but I love my enemies and I have called you to follow my example. You will encounter those who are in open rebellion against me. They expect you to engage them in open hostility, and are prepared for this. They are not prepared for you to love them and you can catch them off guard. Do you think this is too kind? It is the way that I reached you when you were opposed to me. It is my goodness that will lead them to repent even as it did you. 

You know that I have a plan for your life. Do you see it in broad generalizations or in minute details? I do not give most people a view of their destiny far into the future. I have my own reasons why it is better this way, but your plan still involves intricate details and timing. Do not ask to be burdened with these far in advance, but walk with me in childlike trust that I will show you what you need to know when you need to know it. You cannot carry the whole plan and still remain in the state of peace to which I have called you. If you are content to leave the future in my hands you will find that I am good at logistics.