Colossians 3:12-17 – A Compassionate Heart
It is very easy for a person to claim to be what he really is not! Paul here tells the believers that they are to be in practice what they have professed to be. A person who says that he is a Christian is one who professes to have been chosen by God in eternity, and Paul says that the evidence of that is that they ‘put on’ or clothe themselves with certain characteristics.
A true believer will have the same heart of compassion that was evident in the Lord Jesus Christ as he looked on men as sheep without a shepherd and was ‘moved with compassion’. This is a deep concern for the welfare of others and will show itself in four characteristics:
1. Kindness. The exact opposite of the ‘malice’ spoken of in verse 8. During his life on earth, the Lord Jesus Christ went about doing good, and this same kindness and concern for the welfare of others should be present in the believer.
2. Humility. There is no greater example of true humility than that of the Lord Jesus Christ who humbled himself and took on the form of a servant for the sake of his own people. Those that follow him must also show that same humbleness of mind that will consider others better than themselves. Phil. 2:3,4.
3. Meekness. This does not speak of weakness or of somebody not willing to stand up for principle, but rather of a willingness to be submissive under great provocation, and to be prepared to suffer injury rather than to inflict it.
4. Longsuffering or Patience. If the child of God is to be prepared to suffer injury, he is also to be prepared to endure it over an extended period without reacting adversely.
When there is genuine compassion in the heart, these elements will be evident.
Questions
- What elements of these qualities you can observe in your own life?
Prayer Points
- Pray that you would have a heart of compassion.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.