THE BUSINESS OF COMPASSION
Continuing our walk-through of Psalm 103, Let Us delve more deeply into verses 13-16. These lines highlight a key aspect of the Lord’s “Is-ness” (God’s being), which in-turn is central to the Lord’s “Business,” that of compassion.
Compassion, twice noted in verse 13, is translated from the Hebrew רָחַם (rā·ḥǎm). It is defined as a feeling or attitude of profound affection toward another based on a connection or relationship, the strength of which causes one to move from loving feelings to loving actions geared toward remedying issues, relieving hurts, and restoring the object of that affection to wholeness. Simply put, God’s compassion toward us is born out of who God is, and how much God loves us despite our frailness.
Humankind is a living paradox. We are beings created in the image and likeness of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), yet persons formed from the dust of the earth. We are on one hand fearfully and wonderfully made, while on the other flawed beings with a fragile frame. We are imperfect, yet perfectly loved of God.
On today, I pray that God’s compassion toward us, would further translate into our compassion toward one another. Let Us fulfill our role in the family business. Let Us allow the better part of who we are and whose we are loom large in us as we engage others.
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