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Pity and Compassion: God’s Spirit at Work, May 28
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that
fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him.
Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Luke 10:36, 37
.
It is not possible for the heart in which Christ abides to be destitute of
love. If we love God because He first loved us, we shall love all for whom
Christ died. We cannot come in touch with divinity without coming in touch
with humanity; for in Him who sits upon the throne of the universe, divinity
and humanity are combined. Connected with Christ, we are connected with
our fellow men by the golden links of the chain of love. Then the pity and
compassion of Christ will be manifest in our life. We shall not wait to have
the needy and unfortunate brought to us. We shall not need to be entreated to
feel for the woes of others. It will be as natural for us to minister to the needy
and suffering as it was for Christ to go about doing good.
Wherever there is an impulse of love and sympathy, wherever the heart
reaches out to bless and uplift others, there is revealed the working of God’s
Holy Spirit. In the depths of heathenism, men who have had no knowledge of
the written law of God, who have never even heard the name of Christ, have
been kind to His servants, protecting them at the risk of their own lives. Their
acts show the working of a divine power. The Holy Spirit has implanted the
grace of Christ in the heart of the savage, quickening his sympathies contrary
to his nature, contrary to his education. The “Light which lighteth every man
that cometh into the world” (
John 1:9
), is shining in his soul; and this light, if
heeded, will guide his feet to the kingdom of God.
The glory of heaven is in lifting up the fallen, comforting the distressed.
And wherever Christ abides in human hearts, He will be revealed in the same
way. Wherever it acts, the religion of Christ will bless. Wherever it works,
there is brightness.
No distinction on account of nationality, race, or caste, is recognized by
God. He is the Maker of all mankind. All men are of one family by creation,
and all are one through redemption.—
Christ’s Object Lessons, 384-386
.
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