Compassion of Christ

I am not really a compassionate person. I know it, Patty has pointed it out and after all these years together I still just don’t get it. She can be hurting in some way, whether her back from lifting kids, some other physical ailment or something with Abby. I typically strive to quickly get through the “showing compassion” part when I find out she is hurt.

Matthew 9:35-38

35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Compassion: sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others

Jesus loved His church, He did so much that when they were hurting or suffering he treated them with compassion. In this case (above), he knew they were harassed and helpless, he had compassion on them.

Ephesians 5:28-29

28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church

Questions:

1 – Do you recognize when your wife is hurting as Christ does the church?

2 - What do you do when your wife is hurting?

3 – What do you do when you get a bee sting, in other words do you show her the same compassion as you give yourself?

Challenge: Seek to identify when your wife is hurting, suffering, harassed, or helpless and strive to show her compassion.