Daily
Devotional

The other day I heard a bird hit a window of our house. As I looked down outside, I noticed the small thing looking stunned from its encounter. Watching to see if it would recover, I was astonished as I noticed a chipmunk approaching the vulnerable bird. It slowly made its way close and then proceeded to try to lick the bird! It looked as if the chipmunk wanted to console the poor bird. However, the bird evidently saw the situation differently, because it flapped at the chipmunk, knocking it off the deck!  

Being realistic, I would have to label the actions of the chipmunk as most likely stemming from curiosity rather than compassion. Chipmunks are not known for their empathy. Humans, on the other hand, have a great capacity to sympathize with those who suffer. God gave us a unique ability to put ourselves in another person’s position and understand that one’s needs, and He expects us to exercise that ability.  

The dictionary defines compassion as “being sympathetic to the sorrow or troubles of another, with an urge to help.” That certainly describes what Christians should feel toward lost souls, yet sometimes we may need to ask God to increase our compassion. At times we may feel individuals deserve their circumstances, and might not be compassionate enough to truly petition God to help them.

The bird that flew into the window did not see the window, and thus was unaware of the danger. That may also be the case with the people we see suffering. They may be flying from one attraction to another, looking for the bright lights of happiness without understanding the danger of living without God. Our claim to have Jesus living in us requires that we reflect the Lord in our daily lives—at work, school, in the grocery store, in our own homes and families—everywhere we go. If we look, we will see a lot of “stunned” people all around us! There are many ways we can be of help to them, and the Lord will let us know just what to do, if we have His compassion for them in our hearts.