Do you love your enemy? 10 Bible verses to inspire Christian compassion

 Reuters

Jesus led a life filled with compassion; God is described as the Father of all compassion; And we are commanded to be compassionate. Christians are compassionate. It is a word that is said so often, that its impact is lost. To be compassionate is to have a deep feeling of sympathy for one who is suffering, and a strong desire to alleviate that suffering. The reality is that in the midst of busy living, it can be a challenge to truly cultivate this quality of compassion – loving our enemies is tiring – but the Bible says it is central to our call. It is because of God's compassionate nature that he came down to earth in human form in order to save us. In the knowledge that we have received compassion, we are called to show compassion to others.

Here are ten Bible verses on compassion:

Mark 6:34 When he (Jesus) went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Colossians 3:12-13 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Romans 12:20 To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

James 1:27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Peter 3.8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

Isaiah 30:18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

related articles
If you miss the Holy Spirit... you miss the entire point
If you miss the Holy Spirit... you miss the entire point

If you miss the Holy Spirit... you miss the entire point

Why it's hard to get to know God without getting to know the Bible
Why it's hard to get to know God without getting to know the Bible

Why it's hard to get to know God without getting to know the Bible

Just Living: What does following Jesus look like in the 21st Century?

Just Living: What does following Jesus look like in the 21st Century?

News
How going to prison for a crime I didn’t commit changed my life – for the better
How going to prison for a crime I didn’t commit changed my life – for the better

In 2008, Wilson Femayi was wrongly convicted and sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He had just graduated from Bible college. His arrest — the result of a personal vendetta — was a devastating moment. But even in that dark place, God was at work. Today, Wilson is the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Zimbabwe, leading programmes that are restoring prisoners and reuniting families across the country.

Christians in Africa face worsening violence, report finds
Christians in Africa face worsening violence, report finds

A new report from International Christian Concern (ICC) has revealed a disturbing rise in violence against Christians across parts of Africa, with Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Kenya experiencing a surge in attacks, abductions, massacres and forced displacements.

Peace in turbulent times: 12 Bible verses to anchor your soul
Peace in turbulent times: 12 Bible verses to anchor your soul

It's easy to feel overwhelmed, helpless, or even afraid when the world seems to spin out of control. But as believers in Christ, we are not left to face these storms alone.

Nicaragua crackdown on Christianity deepens amid political power grab
Nicaragua crackdown on Christianity deepens amid political power grab

A new policy brief released by Open Doors has exposed as a systematic campaign of repression against Christian communities in Nicaragua.