The Face of Compassion

All that is happening in Haiti got me thinking about the role of Christians in portraying the compassion of God to our world. I heard a story on the news yesterday about how people in Haiti who had been heavily influenced by all the witch doctors and their voodoo are now becoming responsive to Christ. The reason? They don't see the witchdoctors or other demonic "religions" of their culture doing anything for them. They do see that the people bringing aid and comfort are primarily Christians, disciples of Christ, followers of a God of love and grace and mercy.

I know there are lots of organizations like Red Cross that offer aid all over the world, but the reality is Christians are typically at the forefront because we have been touched by the compassion of Christ for us and we are called to share that compassion with a world that needs to know a loving God.

I also was thinking this week about what life will be like when Christians are taken out of this world. There is so much suffering now and it is only going to get worse through the tribulation and all that will happen as the end of the age comes. Can you even imagine how horrible it will be when the face of compassion and grace is no longer looking over the tragic human condition?

Finally, I wonder how you and I are doing personally in being the face of compassion daily. I don't mean just whether we are compassionate and do something during tragedy. I mean just in day to day life. Are we the face of a compassionate, loving God toward the waitress who totally messes up our order, toward the clerk who takes forever, toward the people who get in our way, who slow us down, who just can't seem to get their act together?

Remember, we are salt and light. How are we doing at bringing the flavor of God (compassion and grace are flavors) to every situation and person we encounter?

God, thank-you for your compassionate grace. Help me to be Your face to the people I encounter daily.