Moved to Compassion

As I read the story of the Good Samaritan today, I  am struck by the motivation of the Samaritan, and wonder...

What moves someone beyond fear, indifference, or judgment...  to compassion?

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”  LUKE 10:25-37 




Compassion is a sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Compassion seems to suggest that someone can relate to the distress of another to such a degree that their motivation to help comes from
...having come through a similar situation
...knowing someone first hand who has endured something similar
...having developed an understanding that enables someone to relate to the distress of another

The hard circumstances your life, where the Lord has served
you most significantly, these are what the Lord can use most
powerfully as you serve others in His name.

Burdens shared are cut in half

Joy shared is doubled

We can't always solve another person's burdens, however, when we can authentically identify and relate in compassion, helping where we are able, and being with someone in the midst of it, somehow it becomes more bearable.  

Consider the hard places where the Lord has met you personally...  

Who is He calling you to meet with compassion?