Are your bowels shut up?

                              COMPASSION

1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him.

Compassion is a drawing of the innermost parts at the sight of any distress or misfortune of another. It causes an overpowering desire to alleviate the suffering and/or bring deliverance to another person.  When you have compassion and mercy on someone you are willing to help them. This verse links our bowels, our inward parts, to compassion. Compassion for someone motivates us from the inside out to act on their behalf. This verse is asking, can the love of God live in someone who is not MOVED to help someone in need? It is not possible. Compassion, mercy and love are at the core of God’s love for us. God is not just willing to help us, he is MOVED to help us. His mercy and compassion compel him to come to our rescue. As Jesus was walking on earth he was moved with compassion as he ministered healing and deliverance.

Matt 14:14 And when Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Mark 1: 41 A leper came to Jesus, and “Jesus moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean”.

 The first mention of compassion in the bible is the story of Moses. In Ex. 2:6 Pharaoh’s daughter saw the child: and behold the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children. She didn’t just give him a bottle and send him on his way down the Nile River. She brought him into her kingdom and raised Moses and her own child. She was MOVED with compassion at the sight of the baby and not only did she change his current situation, but she also changed his LIFE.

We’ve heard the story of the good Samaritan. In Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Compassion opens our eyes and makes us want to do something to help. This man was left half dead which is the state of some of our fellow brothers and sisters. The Samaritan left his comfort zone (his high horse) and poured wine and oil (joy and encouragement) into his wounds. He then placed the man on his own horse. This could not have been easy because half dead people are not cooperative and can be difficult to deal with. We have to be willing to help people who may not be willing or even realize that they need our help. He then took the man to the inn which is a version of the church. God told us to go and do likewise.

God did not just feel sorry for us—that’s not compassion. God did not just pity us and hand us a dollar and a bar of soap. He was moved and did something about it. There is a difference between feeling sorry for someone and having compassion for them. You can feel pity for someone and not do anything. You see a homeless man and say “Man that’s messed up” but with compassion we want to help change his situation. When we see our lost brothers and sisters, we need to be MOVED with compassion for their souls. Let’s not shut up our bowels to the plight of our brothers and sisters. We all know the state that constipation will put us in.

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