MIF 5:1 (Jan-Feb 1973)
Editorial
“But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He his anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath.” Psalm 78:38.
Compassion is a divine attribute and includes love, mercy, tenderness of heart and, literally, a deep “fellow-feeling.” It is frequently found in the Word of God when something above and beyond love is intended.
In Psalm 78 the long-suffering and patience of God toward rebellious and disobedient Israel is expressed as compassion. They tried Him grieviously but He refrained from stirring up His holy wrath, showing instead His infinite capacity for complete forgiveness.
In His earthly ministry our Lord showed compassion, or love-plus, toward many ordinary people in times of need. Rarely was His compassion sought but He knew when to show it and follow through with healing action. He gave us the parable of the Good Samaritan to show that we should show compassion even to those who are our traditional enemies.
Peter in 1 Peter 3:8-12 applies the scriptural teaching of compassion to all men. If we would have a closer walk with God we should show compassion where we now show intolerance toward those who offend us. As far as our human limitations allow, we should show the same compassion to saved and unsaved alike that God has shown to unbelieving and unfaithful mankind. Let us therefore walk in the Spirit of Christ, being channels of His grace in a world of sin and rebellion against God.
Paul says in Romans 12:15 that it is part of the Christian life to “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Let us have mercy and show kindness, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven us.