Fashion Fundamentals: Compassionate Hearts

I definitely wouldn’t describe myself as fashionable or trendy. Hopefully I dress nicely. Well, most of the time – maybe less so now that I’ve three young children who often complete my outfit with snot or spew! And yet, from the moment we wake up, the Lord provides the perfect guidance on what to put on each day.

Fashion Fundamentals: Compassionate Hearts

"Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments" (Isaiah 52:1).

Jerusalem could put on clothes of beauty and glory because the time of judgement was over. As believers, we too can adhere to this instruction to awake, rise up and be the people that God created us to be – alive and made new in Him. This isn’t a command to go to our wardrobe and pick out our nicest clothes. Instead, God is instructing us to be strengthened and renewed each day by putting on the beauty of righteousness and holiness:

“And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24 ESV).

Are these the sort of garments we choose to clothe ourselves with every day?

What matters to God is how we clothe our hearts. He has made us new creations in Christ and so we should let the world see His Spirit indwelling us; His character should shine forth from within us.

We all have wardrobe staples, timeless pieces that we rely on, those essential items that we would never be without: blue jeans, white shirt, little black dress . . . Fashion writers argue over what makes the list. But what does the Bible say should be the wardrobe staples of a Christian? What is it that the world should see when they look at us?

Paul gives us his list of fashion essentials as he writes to the Christians at Colossae:

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:12-14 ESV).

The remainder of this article will look at the first of these: compassionate hearts.

To be compassionate is to relate to someone’s situation and want to help them. It’s different from empathy in that it has that component of a desire to help. It’s different from kindness in that it implies we can see ourselves in their shoes. We have the best example of a compassionate heart in the person of the Lord Jesus. On a number of occasions in the Gospels, He is described as being “moved with compassion” and from these examples we can see some situations in which we, too, might be able to “put on” compassion.

Compassion when were busy (Mark 1:35-45)

Life can be hectic. Since having children, I often feel like I never have a minute. I thought I was busy before . . . how naive! And yet, while the Lord Jesus was here on earth, during His three-and-a-half years of public ministry, His time was constantly sought after. Each day, He would rise up early, before dawn, to pray. Not only was He busy travelling through different villages and towns, His days were filled with teaching, preaching and healing. Despite the multitudes of people that followed Him and constantly sought His attention, His healing, and His teaching, He never lost patience, and even in weariness He never refused to help. Instead, Mark writes that He “showed compassion”.

Wow! What a beautiful act. In the busyness of life, Jesus showed compassion. He didn’t claim busyness, weariness or tiredness as an excuse to respond differently or not help. In fact, He chose to heal the leper in this account with a touch. Where others might have felt disgust at this disease-ridden man and bypassed his need, Jesus chose to reach out in compassion and touch him; of course immediately he was cleansed. Compassion came naturally to the Lord Jesus, but it is something that we can nurture; something that we can choose to “put on” each day. Let’s ensure, despite the busyness of our daily lives, that we have eyes that see those in need around us and compassionate hearts that have a desire to help. May we also remember to be compassionate even to those we might often overlook and excuse ourselves from helping because we’re simply “too busy”.

Compassion for our friends and family (Mark 6:30-32)

In this account, the Lord Jesus once again shows His compassionate heart as He offers His disciples rest for their tiredness and refuge from their busy ministry – some time to regain their strength. Sometimes we can be so busy ensuring all our “good deeds” go towards those who can be seen to be benefiting from our help. We want to look good in front of others and so our help goes out to those in the community, or at our workplace, or in our church – perhaps through children’s evangelism, meals for the elderly or various other outreaches. Whilst it’s undoubtedly important to show compassion to these people, at times we can forget about those in our own homes to whom compassion should be most easily displayed. Let’s pray that daily we would remember to “put on” compassionate hearts towards our spouses, our children and those we are closest to. May we never neglect to be a listening ear, the comfort needed, or a shoulder to cry on for those with whom we can, at times, be most frustrated!

Compassion for the multitudes (Matthew 9:36)

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” 

The Lord Jesus saw each individual’s need. There were faces that reflected loss, disappointment, loneliness, sadness, hurt, and hunger, and all moved Him with compassion. He knew that without a shepherd, they were lost and in need of help that only He could provide. How often do I weep for those around me who are still in need of the Saviour? How often am I moved with compassion for the multitudes around the world who are struggling with persecution, famine, and war, amongst many other things that sin has inflicted upon this world? Let’s remember the responsibility we have as believers to show compassion to those we interact with. May compassion drive us to our knees in prayer for others we read or hear about who need our God, and fuel us to reach out to them, wherever possible, with God's love.

“If we put hands and feet to the Gospel message and live it out daily, those around us will see it for what it is – the Truth that transforms” – Billy Graham.