If McDonald’s is known the world over as “Home of the Big Mac,” The Lord’s Church has to be known as “Home of the Tender Hearts.”

I say this, because there are three Greek words, and their derivatives, that are used in the Bible approximately 500 times that are translated into English as “Compassion,” “Mercy,” and the like.

There are few topics or virtues that are addressed in Scripture FIVE HUNDRED TIMES. So when we come upon one of those topics or virtues, such as Compassion or Mercy, we should probably pay extra special attention to it because it is obviously ultra-important to God that we get this, understand it, and do whatever he says we are to do in relation to it.

In describing God’s own nature, King David tells us repeatedly that the Lord is compassionate (see Psalm 103:8). The great Apostle Paul tells us that God is the originator of compassion, and that compassion characterizes God (see 2 Corinthians 1:3). And so it should come as no surprise that God wants his people to emulate this virtue as well (see Zechariah 7:9).

And the kind of compassion that is to be practiced by God’s people is the same kind that Jesus practiced. It’s the kind that doesn’t just “feel” deeply at the sight of human suffering, but the kind that then “acts” to do something about the situation.

When Jesus saw the poor widow of Nain suffering over the recent loss of her only son (and probably her only child), Jesus’ heart was wrenched inside of him to the point that he acted to relieve her suffering (see Luke 7:11-17).

I’m willing to admit that my heart isn’t always tender like Jesus’ – but I want it to be.

What’s the condition of your heart?

New Day Christian Church meets Sundays at 9:30 and 11 a.m., and is located at 7155 Hamner Avenue in Eastvale (at A Street, next to the Fire Station).  For more information, call (951) 278-8367, or visit http://www.newdaycc.net.