Compassion (Part 3)
Compassion in Action

²⁰ And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

Compassion is that thing that stirs us to action. Many times, we can be like the religious leaders and throw away who Jesus is trying to find.

Important things about the father who had two sons.

He was present in both of his sons’ lives. vs 11

He provided for both of his sons. vs 12 (He gave to them his livelihood).

He perceived the difference between them and treated them differently.

The father’s compassion caused him to know when to release. vs 13

Compassion knows when to release. The father released the younger son.

Compassion also demands that we receive. It will make us look for them to return and learn how to receive them. vs 20

Compassion breaks protocol. It will cause you to run and embrace who others will move away from.

Compassion restores. The father restored his son. vs 22

Restoration comes after repentance, and one fruit of repentance is humility.

In essence the father was saying, “I am not just receiving you in the family, but I am restoring you to your position in the family.”

God is attracted to broken people.

The father had to minister to the older son differently.

He pleaded with him. vs 28

He showed him his place. vs 31

He showed him what was proper. vs 32

Compassion will also bring about correction. The father corrected the older son.

God is ready to receive people and we must have the compassion necessary to receive those persons people that Jesus came to seek and to save.