Compassion with Legs

We started a new sermon series in church today on the book of Nehemiah. Our pastor talked about Nehemiah's heart for his people. Nehemiah saw a need in Jerusalem and rather than just recognize the need he took action. It says that Nehemiah had compassion on them, and our pastor explained that the word compassion in the Hebrew in this particular verse is a verb. Which means compassion in the text is not the feeling he had, but that he was willing to do something about that feeling.

I have to confess that this convicted my heart. When I say convicted I don't mean condemnation or shame, just that I recognize that I'm not being moved into action in the areas where my heart is breaking. I am quick to cry even mourn over things going on all around me, but I wondered what am I doing to make a difference?

Bill (our pastor) asked us if we believe that one person can change the world? Can one person change the future? Something is going to happen, but because of one person responding to compassion (in the action form), something very different comes to be.

I absolutely believe this! So why am I not responding to the things God is showing me that break his heart? If I am honest why do I sometimes go out of my way to avoid situations that I know will force me into action?

I could list the reasons. Can you relate? I'm too tired, too busy, too overwhelmed with my own life. I'm afraid, afraid of being physically hurt or even rejected. The list could go on, but I don't want it to.

I just started to read "Raising Kids for True Greatness" by Tim Kimmel, and his definition of true greatness is a passionate love for God that demonstrates itself in an unquenchable love and concern for others. It's always cool for me to see God take all that I'm discovering and somehow tie it all together. In this book Kimmel's comment is that we can't point our children in a direction we ourselves are not moving. This very definition is the thing I want more than anything for myself and my children.

So no lessons, nothing to teach just a humble cry for you to please pray for me, for us as a body,that God would break our hearts. God, fill our hearts with compassion that is moved into action in the specific areas that you have uniquely called each of us. Lord Give us hearts to see people the way you see people. Give us the strength and the desire to live out our God given destiny to change the world!