Compassionate...Not Critical

This morning I was praying in my car asking God to give me something practical to talk about today. Something that a lot of people would be able to relate to, but also something that would challenge us to be better people. I always want to God to challenge me to be a better person...not just in the natural, but also in the spiritual. I don't ever want to get on "cruise control" with God and just ride this life out. I want to feel like I am always growing closer to Him and He is constantly showing me more about who He is and how He is. If I am always opening myself up to more of Him and inviting in change, then I know He will just continue to change me into who He created me to be.
So literally as I was praying about what to write today a dump truck pulled up beside me on the highway...and the moment I looked over at it God began to speak to me. He started by asking me if that dump truck was full or empty? As I answered, saying "I have no idea", He said to me "that's right, you don't". Then He went on revealing to me that in the same way that I don't know if that truck is carrying a heavy load, I also don't know what kind of load the people that cross my path are carrying. And He showed me that to many times we are critical on people when we really need to be compassionate toward them.
When you see a dump truck going down the road you really have no idea if it's carrying a load or not. I mean, if it is carry a very large load you may see it heaping out of top of bed, but a load that large is quite obvious. But what if it is carrying a load that isn't visible to your eyes? Are you just assuming it's empty if you can't see it's load? Are there signs that if you really take the time you can tell it's carrying something? Like maybe by looking at the tires you could see if there is a lot of weight on the truck? Or when takes off from a stop maybe it takes off a little slow because of the weight it is carrying? You may already see where I am going with this....and I kind of hope so. Because what God revealed to me is that people are very much like this. They can be carrying around "loads" and it can be affecting them, but we have no idea, especially if we are not really paying attention to them. We are so quick to judge someone by their actions before we consider that those actions might be a results of what they are going through or carrying around. Of course when the thing they are going through is so large that it becomes very obvious (just like the dump truck), then we will go 'oh man, they have a lot on them. I feel bad for them'. But tons of people we come in contact with every single daily are under some kind of bondage. But are we taking the time to even notice, or to try to help them? Most of the time no, we are just critical or judgmental of the behavior that the bondage is causing. People show signs of being under bondage just like a dump truck can show physical signs of having a heavy load. Does the person's joy seem to be gone? Does the look on their face, or the way they are carrying their self, just seem defeated? Is the language they using that of a person who is feeling depressed? Some of these things you can even see from a distance. You can tell when you see a single mom trying to deal with her kids in the store if life is going good, or if she is just mentally and physically exhausted. Or if a man is being kicked around by life just by the way he is carrying himself. But it's all about asking God to help you see with your spiritual eyes, and then taking the time to care.
Showing compassion to others is the job, yes job, of everyone who claims to walk with Christ. It is who Jesus was, so it should be a very important part of who we are as we represent Him. In this time of the year (near Christmas), you are going to come across many people who just feel defeated as they face a holiday that has been turned into gift giving...however, they just can't make ends meet to be able to give much, if anything. So as you are out and about, ask God to help you see people the way He does, and then let your compassion move you to the point of sharing. Share whatever it is that God places on your heart, and trust that if He asks you to step out, He will provide. If it is financially, He will provide. If it is a to give an encouraging word, He will provide. If it is to show love, He will provide. Whatever it is, He will provide if you only open yourself up to Him and TRUST HIM. And in these moments both you and the person you are reaching out to will receive. God has an amazing way of doing this!
Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Ephesians 4:32 - "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
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."
God, thank You for the example of Jesus when it comes to compassion. Please give us Your heart for others today. Open our spiritual eyes to see people the way You see people. And help us to show compassion to the burdened and brokenhearted BEFORE we are critical or judgmental of them. And Holy Spirit help us to trust that if You are calling us to reach out to them, then You will provide exactly what we need to do it. In Jesus name, Amen.