Compassion should be given and not earned

In the last couple of years God has taken the what I define compassion as and showed me what he finds compassion to be. Dictionary.com say the following a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. I love how the dictionary defines compassion, but more than that I love how the Bible puts it. John 13:34-35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  

Psalms 90:12-16 ¹² Teach us to number our days aright,
       that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

 ¹³ Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
       Have compassion on your servants.

 ¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
       that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

 ¹⁵ Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
       for as many years as we have seen trouble.

 ¹⁶ May your deeds be shown to your servants,
       your splendor to their children. 

I must admit when I read verses like that I tend to get on fire a bit and at the same time feel convicted. I feel many times I fall short. The reason I fall short is because I have difficult time receiving Compassion from the Lord. What I have learned is that compassion is not a pity trip, but compassion is here to save us. This salvation comes from Christ, but at the same time Christ is wanting to save us from ourselves. I heard a great quote from Shaun Groves "The Good News is not what we are saved from, but what we are saved for." When I heard that I went into tears for a minute. Because many times I become comfortable because of heaven. But the Good News is that we are saved by the compassion of Christ to not only worship him and love him. But to take our worship and show the world compassion because of who we love.

Isiah 58:7-11

 ⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
       and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
       when you see the naked, to clothe him,
       and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

 ⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
       and your healing will quickly appear;
       then your righteousness will go before you,
       and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

 ⁹ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
       you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
       "If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
       with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

 ¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
       and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
       then your light will rise in the darkness,
       and your night will become like the noonday.

 ¹¹ The LORD will guide you always;
       he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
       and will strengthen your frame.
       You will be like a well-watered garden,
       like a spring whose waters never fail. 

If all that we do is simply live our lives and not understand that we live in a world that is in need of compassion, a compassion that is earned. I am talking about a small light in a dark soul that burns bright and lights up the body of Christ. 

Isaiah 6:8-10

⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
      And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

 ⁹ He said, "Go and tell this people:
       " 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
       be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'

 ¹⁰ Make the heart of this people calloused;
       make their ears dull
       and close their eyes.
       Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
       hear with their ears,
       understand with their hearts,
       and turn and be healed." 

So what is my prayer?? Simple I pray that I can be that light in this world. I pray that truly understand what it means to be a follower of Christ. That I not only show compassion when it is earned, but I show compassion when it is not earned. Christ paid for my spot in heaven, it's the blood and compassion he had. He knew the price that had to be paid.