Thoughts on Compassion

The Syrian refugee crisis has been heavy on my heart.  For a while, my worldly thinking said, "We need to protect ourselves!  What if this brings in more extremist terrorists?"  But further logic says, "News flash, Greg:  (a) They are already here and (b) they will get in regardless.  What's most important?  Protecting ourselves ... or compassion?"

The Lord is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.

The Lord protects the simplehearted;

when I was in great need, he saved me.

Psalm 116:5-6

I watched a video yesterday discussing how their own neighbors (Saudi Arabia, et al) would not take them.  European countries are refusing to take them, we are debating taking them ... all the while these real people, created in God's own image, are in flux.  They are starving, hurting, scared and unwanted.  I can't imagine the anguish and lack of hope they must feel.  These are people with real lives, real aspirations, real souls ... literally, at this point, the least of these.

If not us, then who will help them?  Who will have compassion despite the risks that some of them are undoubtedly terrorists?  

If we truly trust in God's promises, we know that love and compassion - even for our enemies (especially for our enemies) - is job #1.  Is God sovereign?  Is He in control? If we truly believe that, then we have no choice but to subscribe to His ways ... and that includes compassion, despite our fears.  This is a form of sacrifice on our part.

There is so much hurting in this world - from hunger, to sickness, to loneliness and depression, to simply feeling "unwanted".  It's time for us to do something.

If not us, then who? If not me and you ... right now.
It's time for us to do something.

-- Matthew West