Heart of CompassionSample

Clothed with Compassion

What’s your favorite clothing style? Vintage? Comfy? Neutrals? Sporty?

In Colossians 3:12—our verse for the week—Paul gave us five qualities to put on like clothes. He says this: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

This verse talks about what our life can look like when we’re a part of God’s family. No matter your preferred style, these five in Colossians are going to look good on you—guaranteed! These are the new “clothes” God gives us to wear every day! Let’s start with compassion.

When you hear the word compassion, do you think of an attitude or an action?

In the Bible, compassion is almost always associated with action. Jesus often showed compassion to those around Him. He saw a need, and He acted to meet it.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul showed us a picture of compassion in action. He opened his letter with these words that depict God’s compassionate nature. His compassion for us moves Him to offer comfort. Paul even went as far as to call God, “the Father of compassion”!

One reason God comforts us in our troubles is so that we can do the same for people around us. The compassion we give is really God’s compassion. We pass on what we’ve experienced through His presence in our pain and struggles.

Often when people are in the middle of a hard time, they just want God to take it away. This is understandable; the Bible shows that God doesn’t just take all our troubles away the moment we ask. But He will be with us as we struggle, feeling our emotions and being present in our pain.

Today, look around you for someone who needs comfort. Is someone in your family, school, or youth group going through a hard time? How can you come alongside that person with a heart of compassion?

You might want to fix their situation right away but being present with them—just like God is present with us—is an action that goes a long way.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

© 2023 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved.

Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.