Compassion that Heals

Your compassion may not heal the cancer, but it can heal some of the emotional pain cancer causes.

Delivering compassion that heals?

In Matthew 8:1-3 we have the account of a leper who came up to Jesus and bowed down before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, you are able to make me clean.” Jesus reached out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Jeus shows us the importance of being compassionate and kind towards others.  It requires us to demonstrate a spirit of both being willing and being able. “Willing” implies a readiness and eagerness to do something, demonstrating a choice or desire to act. “Able” refers to having the capacity, or means to do something, regardless of whether one chooses to do it.

Jesus didn’t go around healing everyone He had contact with. The leper knew this.  He also knew that Jesus was able to heal him, but to get healing, he appealed to Jesus for compassion that heals.  He wanted both compassion and healing.

Now most of us are unable to heal others of their sicknesses. But most of us who are believers have within us the capacity to show a willingness to do something and an ability to act out our willingness.  This shows up in us in the form of the compassion with which we demonstrate toward others.

We can often get this simple display of compassion wrong.  We will often withhold compassion because we feel like the receiver is not worthy of our compassion. Compassion is of no use to us unless we shower it onto others. Having the ability to be compassionate but withholding that compassion makes our ability to do compassionate things of no use.

When Jesus said, “I am willing,” He was saying you are important to Me.  Often when we say we are willing we are secretly saying it is important to me to be seen as helpful to others. The leper was looking for both willingness and ability in Jesus.  Jesus was not looking to be seen, but to be helpful.

And like this, the Lord is looking for willingness and ability in each of us.  A willingness to be people of compassion and an ability to put our compassion to work in the lives of the people around us.  He wants us to do this without thinking of how it makes us feel or of how worthy we may think others are deserving.

Compassion that is withheld actually contributes to what holds others down. If you have received compassion at any time from the Lord, He deposited enough compassion into you so that you can use that same compassion to help heal the conditions of others. Your compassion may not heal the cancer, but it can heal some of the emotional pain cancer causes.

Compassion that heals takes many forms that are easy for us to give to others.  It can be understanding; it can be patience; it can be sharing; it can be tolerance.  Compassion is both the willingness and the ability to move in the lives of others without judging the lives of others.

Compassion that heals is not compassion when it makes you feel great to have done something for others.  Many of us think of our compassion and what it will cost us if we use it on something we do not believe is worthy.  Your compassion is of no value if you use it only on the thing you believe is of value.

Compassion is made valuable because you give it to someone who values what you do for them. Just as the Lord did not heal everyone during His time on earth, we must learn to restrain ourselves, so we learn to deliver healing and compassionate kindness where it is needed and not where we want it to be needed.

Be ready to deliver your compassion when you are called to do so. Be kind and friendly and supportive towards everyone but make sure to be compassionately kind and friendly and supportive to those who need kind, friendly and supportive compassion.

But be careful not to make people feel they are down by the way we try to lift them up. Compassion that heals is discerning.  It is delivered to those who need healing. Trying to show compassion to a healthy man could make you appear to be more about yourself that about others.

The leper asked Jesus for His willingness. Jesus could see his need.  He saw the circumstances. If you are providing help to others, it is wise to discern the circumstances, so you don’t try to cheer up the person who is already more cheerful than you are.

Learn to deliver compassion that heals, and you will find that the same compassion will heal you of many things that hinder the joy you can have in your life.

Live a Delivered Life. Love you.