Day 14 | Compassion Keeps Going

Reflection

Not all emotions are equal. Compassion trumps a lack of confidence.

Picture a parent who will stop at nothing to protect their child – even if it means placing themselves in danger. When we look at the conflict in Ukraine, we see compassion driving so many people to protect and provide for loved ones when there would be many reasons to lack confidence.

Jesus endured the cross ‘for the joy set before Him’. This phrase could mean a few different things, but they all sound like compassion at work. Jesus may have been seeing ahead to God the Father’s delight. If so, the love and compassion within the Trinity wins.

The joy set before Jesus may well have been you. His compassion for you, and all those He would save, driving Him forward to endure the cross. Some suggest ‘for the joy’ could be translated ‘in exchange for the joy’. In this case, Jesus chose to forgo the joy that was eternally His to lower Himself to earth on His saving mission. Why would He do this? Because of His love and compassion.

Whenever I allow my love and compassion for others to grow, it can win over a lack of confidence. The more I fix my eyes on Jesus – a phrase that implies choosing to focus on Jesus when other things might distract us – the more my compassion for others grows too. To put it another way, I find enough confidence to do the right thing because I have too much compassion for others not to.

Responding in prayer

Thank you that enough compassion trumps any lack of confidence.

Lord, would You grow my compassion as I choose to fix my eyes on You?

In this time of Lent, thank you that the joy set before You drove You forward to the cross and beyond.