Father of Compassion Father’s Day Service Guam Christian Church

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. (Psalm 68:5) As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him (Psalm 103:13) The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. (Psalm 116:5)

The Father image in Psalms One of many images used to describe God in the Book of Psalms. Let’s think about this father image. How is God a father of compassion?

It takes a lot to be compassionate. First, you have to be in a position to feel compassion. That is, you must see yourself as more fortunate to have compassion on someone. Second, to actually show compassion, one should have the heart to go beyond feelings to action.

One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. (Psalm 62:11)

Ultimately, it is God’s perfect character that makes him a Great Father. Facets of strength and love are fused and balanced. Power and protection Command and caring

As parents, sometimes we can feel insecure about how we handle our kids. Our imperfections show up in our words or reactions. God is a perfect father, never insecure or unsure about how he ‘parents’ us.

Like God We too can show compassion like God. Actually, the more we become like God, the more compassion we will naturally display in our lives.

Reflection Do I see power or position as opportunities to show compassion? Do I use my authority/talents/abilities mostly to serve myself or to help others? Is my tendency to look to serve others or to expect others to serve me? Do I measure or assess people based on their weaknesses or their strengths? Do I tend to focus on people’s faults without being aware of my own? Do I tend to accuse people immediately, or do I give them the benefit of the doubt?

Compassion is a mark of God’s Fatherhood. Compassion changes people, builds churches, and opens doors. Stories…

Closing God’s perfect character makes him a Father of Compassion. We too can imitate God in his character and actions. Be an instrument of compassion today!

Father of Compassion Father’s Day Service Guam Christian Church Thanks for listening!