Compassion Is Love in Action - The Crosswalk Devotional - March 4

Compassion Is Love in Action
By Meg Bucher

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” - 1 John 3:18 ESV

Losing love is hard to survive. The parts broken in a breakup are slow to piece back together. The wake of loss is a thief of comfort. Human love has an inevitable end, either by broken down relationships or the end of life here on earth. Pain hurts. Heartbreak is painful.

Compassion is rooted in the depths of our hearts and the firmly rooted soil of our souls. When Jesus had compassion on another, He literally hurt from His core out of love for them. Perhaps in ruminating a moment on what it feels like to lose love, we can yield our hearts and minds towards compassion for others who are suffering their own losses. Endings and beginnings are hard, no matter if they are for better or worse. The middle is where most of us meander. Let’s aim not only to see and think about each other in love but to treat each other with love.

“My little children, don’t just talk about love as an idea or theory. Make it your true way of life, and live in the pattern of gracious love.” - 1 John 3:18 The Voice

Love is scary because it requires us to put ourselves out there …risking rejection. And rejection can feel hard to survive! Love requires an investment in our time, resources, thoughts and emotions. To love like Jesus is asking is to feel compelled with compassion towards the people in our lives and allow His love for us, and them, to flow out of our lives.

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” - 1 John 3:18 NLT

In a world overrun with words, let’s find a different way to love each other beyond our screens and devices. The power of an in-person smile, embrace, and live listening ear oozes of compassionate love. Christ-like love is self-sacrificing, humble, and willing.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

“Jesus kept it simple. He taught and demonstrated that love is an action,” a Bible Connection article “Love is an Action,” explains, “Faith transforms us into people of love who live differently in the world.”

When we are willing to love others the way Jesus commands, healing will happen before our eyes. There are so many people to love in the world. There are so many people to love in our individual, day-to-day life. God is faithful to place us with other people, to love and be loved in a way that brings glory and honor to Him.

“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.” - 1 John 3:18-20 The Message

The Lord will make sure our hearts aren’t drained from all of the compassionate love we are lending to our neighbors. As we love and serve others, our souls are filled with contentment and joy. This is the way we are designed to live. It’s impossible to love another the way Jesus commands without Him. When we surrender our lives to Christ Jesus, His Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us. From that moment on, we are filled with the compassionate love of Christ Jesus. We have the strength, through Him and the Spirit living in us, to tap into the love of Christ and let it flow through our veins and thoughts and out into the world around us by the choices we make.

Outward-faced life. This is life within the love of Christ. While we’re busy seeking Him and loving others, the Father is always making sure we have everything we need. Life to the full. This is the life Christ died so we would live. Not full of strife, though we will experience trials. Not full of sadness, though we will cry our share of tears. But full of love. Full of fun. Full of peace which surpasses all understanding …rooted in the way we love, and are loved … by Love, Himself.

Further Reading:

Meg writes about everyday life within the love of Christ at megbucher.com. She is the author of “Friends with Everyone, Friendship within the Love of Christ,” “Surface, Unlocking the Gift of Sensitivity,” “Glory Up, The Everyday Pursuit of Praise,” “Home, Finding Our Identity in Christ,” and "Sent, Faith in Motion." Meg earned a Marketing/PR degree from Ashland University but stepped out of the business world to stay home and raise her two daughters …which led her to pursue her writing passion. A contributing writer for Salem Web Network since 2016, Meg is now thrilled to be a part of the editorial team at Salem Web Network. Meg loves being involved in her community and local church, leads Bible study, and serves as a youth leader for teen girls.