Reach out and make a difference

How-To-ListenReach out and make a difference – it seems what so many more people need today is to have some one reach out to them and to show genuine compassion. In our high-tech world of smart phones, wifi, Facebook, and instant messaging, it seems as if more and more people are losing the ability to communicate and to interact with others on a more personal level. A while back ago, I read an article about some relationship trends developing as a result of technology. Dating relationships, engagements, and even marriages ending through text messages and even Facebook posts and not a personal and more private conversation between two people. As technology creates opportunities to share information , many people are being left emotionally dry, isolated, and alone.

And of some, have compassion…

Within the book of Jude there is a short verse that has begun to take on a new meaning for me: And of some have compassion, making a difference (Jude 22). There’s a lot of truth within this verse if we look beyond the words. We all have had times in our lives where someone showed us compassion and it was their selfless act that did make a difference in our life. Whether it was a heartache, a spiritual battle, an illness, or even just feeling a little down, we have all found ourselves lifted up by others – maybe a coworker, a family member, or a friend. Somebody felt the need to reach out and make a difference in our lives at that moment.

I often use the converse theory used in math to study Bible verses in my personal study. If we take the converse of this verse, it becomes: and most have no compassion, making no difference. Unfortunately, we all have also experienced the times in our life where there was no one that seemed to care. No one moved to show us compassion at a time when we felt that our circumstances would overwhelm us. As Christians, we knew at that time that God was with us but we also desired to have someone to put their arm around us and to comfort us as we faced our trials and difficulties alone. People we thought were friends and who cared simply were too busy with their own lives or simply didn’t notice or want to be bothered with what we were going through. In any case, what we needed was for someone to show us compassion and to desire to make a difference in our lives.

Jesus taught about compassion

Compassion towards others should be a part of our new nature in Jesus. We should now have a desire to reach out to others because of our love for the Lord. Jesus taught: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matthew 25:34-40). What Jesus was teaching in this passage was that compassion is a trait that defines the true believer. Those that did the things that Jesus mentioned, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting those in prison, were welcomed into His eternal presence. Jesus also plainly teaches: Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matthew 25:44-46).

Compassion comes from people

We live in a modern society that has forgotten that regardless of what government programs or community organizations exist, there is no replacing God’s plan when it comes to how we treat others. While government social services agencies and organizations may be able to feed the body, they cannot save the soul. When Christians show compassion to others we are actually setting up an opportunity to share Jesus with others. Peter wrote: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15) and when this is our attitude while we are being compassionate towards others, we stand ready to give an account of why we can selflessly give of ourselves. We can be as David wrote in Psalms, I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed (Psalms 119:46) and what Paul wrote to the early Christians in Colossus, Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man (Colossians 3:16). When we reach out to others we are setting up opportunities to share in our faith. Others are more apt to listen to us because they will see it is our faith that compels us to reach out beyond ourselves and to show compassion to others.

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