Compassion

This week spend time as a family connecting with God through compassion. You feel the closest to God when you are serving the least of these because when you serve others you are doing it unto Jesus.

To learn more about compassion, click here.

• Sunday

  Scripture:
  “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
  
  Colossians 3:12

  Activation:
  When and how can you purposely put on compassion? You purposely get dressed every morning. You choose what outfit and shoes you will wear. Clothing ourselves in compassion is on purpose and thought through as well. Brainstorm ways you can choose to put on compassion and demonstrate it to others.

  Table Talk:
  As a family, discuss several ideas and ways you will put on compassion for one another, for others, and maybe even for yourself.

• Monday

  Scripture:
  Jesus saw that Mary was crying and that the Jews who came with her were crying, too. Jesus felt very sad in his heart and was deeply troubled. He asked, “Where did you bury him?”

  “Come and see, Lord,” they said. Jesus cried.

  John 11:33-35

  Activation:
  John chapter 11 talks about the death of Lazarus and how his loved ones were sad about his passing. Jesus, having eyes to see people, saw how sad they were. Jesus felt their sadness and showed them compassion when He cried with them. Ask Holy Spirit to give you eyes like Jesus to notice people who are hurting.

  Table Talk:
  Discuss what can keep you from seeing other through a lens of compassion. Is it inconvenience? Is it mixed up priorities? Is it selfishness?

• Tuesday

  Scripture:
  “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if your enemy is thirsty, give him a drink. Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head.”

  Romans 12:20

  Activation:
  As believers, compassion is not something that we only express to those we love or those who are kind to us. Compassion is also for those who are not kind, not loving, or even the people we don’t know. Ask Holy Spirit to show you if there is anyone you have kept compassion from. Repent, change your way of thinking, and ask Father God to forgive you.

  Table Talk:
  Sometimes, when we’re hurt or sad about something someone has done to us or said to us, we can “turn off” our heart towards them. Reflect together. Have you done that with one another? Now is a time to repent, restore, and ask the Holy Spirit to see each other rightly!

• Wednesday

  Scripture:
  "But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own donkey, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. Luke 10:33-34

  Activation:
  Compassion is an act of love that is done without having to be asked to do it and even if a reward isn’t given. What can you do as a family to demonstrate compassion and meeting a need of someone you don’t know just like the Good Samaritan? Consider making care packages containing hygiene products and a snack for a homeless person. Depending on the weather, buy sweaters and blankets to give away to the homeless.

  Table Talk:
  Sometimes, we don’t realize how GOOD we are living until we take a step back. Take turns discussing all the ways your family is blessed!

• Thursday

  Scripture:
  Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Mark 1:41

  Activation:
  Jesus was a compassionate healer. During this time, lepers were not supposed to have any contact with non-lepers. Lepers were to be quarantined, separated and isolated to avoid the spread of the sickness. Jesus was not concerned with being infected. Jesus was moved by the need for healing, and he didn’t keep it from him. Jesus was willing to heal the leper and He did. Ask Father God to give you His heart of compassion for others. What would it look like for you to be moved by someone’s need? Who can you help today?

  Table Talk:
  Do you have items in your home that you could gather up and bless someone else with? Make a plan together as a family. Pray and ask the Lord, “Lord, what would you like our family to give in order to help someone else?” When He speaks, is this challenging you? How so? Discuss together.

• Friday

  Scripture:
  The baby’s older sister found herself a vantage point a little way off and watched to see what would happen to him. Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the Nile to bathe; her maidens strolled on the bank. She saw the basket-boat floating in the reeds and sent her maid to get it. She opened it and saw the child—a baby crying! Her heart went out to him. She said, “This must be one of the Hebrew babies.”

  Exodus 2:4-6

  Activation:
  Compassion isn’t a feeling that only adults feel. No matter how old you are, you can feel compassion. Pharaoh’s daughter saw the baby crying and the Bible says her heart went out to him. Ask Father God to lead you in compassion. Yesterday, you asked Father God to give you His heart of compassion for others. Today, ask Holy Spirit to give you creative ideas on how to respond when you feel compassion. Pharaoh’s daughter not only felt compassion for the baby, but she responded in compassion by asking her helpers to pull him out of the water.
  
  Table Talk:
  What does compassion feel like for you? Do you begin to cry? Does your heart feel warm? Does the Lord show you His love for a person or a situation? Share with one another how He speaks to you through compassion.

• Saturday

  Scripture:
  Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Luke 7:11-15

  Activation:
  Jesus came to serve others and minister to the needs of others. You are the hands and feet of Jesus. Set aside some time to quiet yourself before the Lord and ask Him to show you ways that you can be a distributor of His compassion in your world of influence.

  Table Talk:
  Jesus brought hope to this widow and the townspeople. He carried in His presence which changed everything for this boy who was said to be dead. You carry His presence too! How can you carry hope and life into situations and change them?