When I looked into your eyes, kindness and compassion could be seen.

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.”  (1 Peter 3:8 NKJV)

Last Sunday’s Bible class lesson was centered on a lesson derived from a look at the parable commonly referred to as the “Good Samaritan.”  You’ll find the account of this parable recorded in the 10th chapter of Luke.  I know that you’ve no doubt heard this story many times, but let me just synopsize it here for you so that it will be fresh in our minds.

You remember that a “certain” man had set out on a journey from Jerusalem to Jericho, traveling what historians say, was a dangerous road back then.  Somewhere along the way, he was set upon by a band of thieves and robbers who not only robbed him of everything he had, including his clothes, but also beat him until he was “half dead.”

Then you’ll recall that a couple of “religious” men had passed by, saw the victim laying beside the road and instead of going to his aid, deliberately passed him on the other side of the road.  And then, a man of Samaria came along and when he saw what had happened to the man, it says that “he had compassion on him.”  And that’s where I intend to continue on with our lesson here today.  To use that word “compassion” for the basis of our study.

Now the first thing I want you to notice here is that, not only did he “have compassion” on him BUT, he acted on that “compassion.”  He didn’t just “feel sorry” for him, he helped him.  He treated his wounds and then took him to an inn where he nursed him all night.  When he had to leave the next day, he paid the innkeeper to continue treating the man and said that if there were any more expenses incurred, that when he returned he’d reimburse him.

There’s another word we find in the Bible that is closely allied to “compassion” and that is “kindness.”  Those two words just seem to go together, don’t they?  When we think about the import of these words, I think that it’s pretty easily seen why they are traits that are part of the make up of a Christian character.  In fact, I’d go so far as to opine that, if these traits were not present in a person’s character, I don’t believe that person could claim to be a faithful Christian.

A good passage to look at in regards to acting on our “kindness and compassion” can be read in James 2:14-18 where we see that we have to DO and not just SAY.  In other words, where is the evidence of your “compassion” if you don’t help where and when it’s needed?

The apostle Peter also had something to say on this subject when he wrote the words of the verse which I used as a preamble to this lesson.  That Christians are expected to have “unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love” plus be “tenderhearted with humility.”  (1 Pet. 3:8)   We certainly wouldn’t exhibit very much of a Christian nature if we saw a situation where we could help and then “passed by on the other side of the road,” would we?

Again, why I say that “compassion and kindness” are inherent in the character of a Christian is something Paul wrote in Col. 3:12-13.  Read with me these words inspired by God:  “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

Peter also has more to say in regards to the make up of a Christian when he describes what a Christian’s nature looks like.  In 2 Pet. 1:4 he says that we are to be “partakers of the divine nature” (be Christ-like) and then in verses 5-8 we see what that “divine nature” consists of.  We recognize this passage as being commonly called the “Christian graces.” I like to refer to them as being the “characteristics” of a Christian and as such, should be recognizable by all. 

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As I often do, I have a little story that I feel helps illustrate our lesson and it goes as follows:   “Many, many years ago, in Northern Virginia, during a bitterly cold winter, an old man came to a river and needed to cross it to get home.  He waited for someone to come along and give him a ride to the other side.  Time passed and it got on towards evening and he was almost numb from the cold.

Finally he heard the sound of horses coming towards him.  He watched anxiously as several horsemen came into view.  As they rode up to him, he looked at them and let them pass on by without making any attempt to get their attention.   As the last ride approached, the raised his hand and asked, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side?”  The rider said, “Sure thing.  Climb on.”

The old man was so cold and stiff that he couldn’t get upon the horse so the rider got off and lifted him up on the horse and then he got back on.  They crossed the river, but instead of just letting him off on the other side, he took the man to his home that wasn’t far from the river.

When they got there, the rider asked him a question.  He asked why the old man had not asked the riders in front of him for help in crossing the river.  He said,“Why did you wait for the last rider?  What if I had refused and left you there.” 

The old man looked him in the eye and said, “I’ve been around these parts for some time and I reckon that I know people pretty good.  It would have been useless to even ask them for a ride.  But when I looked into your eyes, kindness and compassion could be seen.  I knew, then and there, that you had a gentle spirit and would welcome the opportunity to help me in my time of need.”

The rider was touched deeply by the old man’s words and said, “I’m most grateful for what you have said.  May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”  Having said that, President Thomas Jefferson turned his horse and made his way back to the White House.

I think I’ll close our lesson today by very simply echoing the words of Thomas Jefferson. “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey