Being Fair to all requires Grace. Grace requires: a heart of compassion – broken hearts & hurting bodies

Galatians 6:9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men...

Most people are touched when they see hurting bodies and broken hearts. That's why the television commercials for relief agencies are so effective when they show kids and animals in misery beyond the scope of our normal daily experience.

Then we are generally moved to a short term response of compassion such as making a credit card donation or doing a text on a cell phone that automatically gives $10 or some such insignificant (to us) amount toward the cause.

In a very short period of time we 'move on' and think very little more about the plight of those unless CNN or some other such media outlet keeps bringing it back before us.

In cases such as Katrina and the Gulf Coastal area, or the Haiti earthquake and then hurricane devastation, or the China earthquakes, or the Pakistan floods wiping out thousands of impoverished people, something sets in that has now been named "compassion fatigue." What a strange term.

Is it possible that "compassion fatigue" is another name for "social justification?" Society, in general, decides that victims need to 'step up' and bear their own responsibility in getting out of the mess.

Typically the person making that type of reference is someone who has given $20-50 donation through their church or the Red Cross or Salvation Army, or by credit card through a telethon. They have appeased their guilt of noblesse oblige through an effort of parity and don't want to hear any more about it. 'If they can't take personal responsibility after all the money we've given them, then they don't deserve any more...'

How do we keep a heart of compassion without continual visuals of broken hearts and hurting bodies? How do we keep a heart of compassion rather than experiencing 'compassion fatigue?' How do we avoid the hard-heartedness of "social justification?"

The theological concept necessary for having the 'heart of Jesus,' being fair to all who came to him, being moved by the masses, is "Grace."

Grace - grace is a circular dynamic. If we have been touched by Grace we are filled with compassion. If we are filled with compassion we give Grace. Grace within us fulfills all the obligations of the law and moves beyond that which is required.

Grace within us restores the broken and broken hearted. Grace within us eliminates the 'victim' status and makes us one family with the weak, the afflicted, the hurting, the outcasts, the prisoners, the diseased, the social misfits and 'those not deserving of our benevolence...'

Aren't you glad that God hasn't looked at you and me with compassion fatigue?

"In as much as you do it unto the least of these you have done it unto Me."

If you want to talk about this worship moment online, or where you are in your pilgrimage,  please send me a note: james@jhuffman.net I'm looking forward to hearing from you today!  jim huffman    For other devotionals, please visit the Our Devotionals page.

Home Page	Our Family	Our Statement of Faith	Our History	Our Pastor
Our Missions	Our Calendar	Our Devotionals	Our Location	Our Town

Christ's Church

a non-denominational community church

525 West 15th Street

Fayetteville, Arkansas  72702

Email:

james@jhuffman.net