Compassion for the Lost

Compassion:  To feel sympathy, to pity, to be moved with tender-hearted mercy; deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it

FEARFUL FOR THE LOST

When we see lost souls that are on a path to destruction, we should be fearful for them.  Compassion for lost souls causes great sorrow in the heart - heaviness, pain, weeping, etc.  It is painful to bear a lost person or persons on your heart.

We should have compassion on their souls and a deep desire to share God with them.  God calls us to witness to others and bring souls to Him for salvation.  While we cannot decide for someone else, we can guarantee that they will hear the call and invitation from the Lord.

WHAT SATAN SEEKS

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT)

Satan blinds the lost through sin.  He blinds them through his lies.  He longs to damn them to hell forever.  The lost have hope through believers who will plead for them.  Satan trembles when believers pray and witness.  He cannot stand against the awesome power of God.

FEEL WHAT JESUS FELT

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36 NLT)

Jesus was moved with compassion!  Lost souls moved Jesus to cry out to them, seek them and save them. 

“Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” (Mark 6:34 NLT)

Again, Jesus was moved with compassion.  They were like sheep without a shepherd, so he began to teach them.

Christ is our example.  We should follow Christ as our model and strive to have the attitude of Christ.  Scripture is full of references to the compassion, sympathy and pity of Jesus toward the lost.  In order to have the attitude of Christ, we must have compassion on lost souls.  We must be driven to share the love of Christ with others.

“22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.  24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.” (Jude 1:22-24 NLT)

In order to win souls for the Lord, we must feel what Jesus felt.  We must feel compassion, sympathy and pity for a lost person if we are to have a chance to win him/her to the Lord.

DO WHAT JESUS DID

Jesus didn't just feel compassion for the lost, he did something about it!  It was Jesus’ compassion that moved him to make the ultimate sacrifice – His crucifixion for each and every one of our sins!  He died to you and He died for me upon that cross.  Then He rose from the dead to show victory over the world, the flesh and Satan.

Compassion will move you to action – to do something for those upon whom you have compassion.  Just as Christ took action, we should also take action.  We should take action by witnessing and leading the lost to the Lord.

“5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.  6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.” (Psalm 126:5-6 NLT)

This Scripture refers to winning lost souls to Jesus Christ.  God wants all believers to share his Word.  He wants us to share the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for the sins of mankind.  God wants believers to weep and mourn over lost souls.  He wants us to maintain a heart of compassion, a tender heart, and unconditional love toward all others.

HOW CAN I HAVE COMPASSION FOR THE LOST?

Do you have compassion for those who are lost in sin?  Remember, we were all once lost as those who are currently lost are today.  It is our job to tell them that there is forgiveness in Christ.

How can I have compassion for the lost?  Go to the Lord and ask Him to teach you.  Ask the Lord to plant this love in your heart by the Holy Spirit.  GOD IS LOVE!  If we are truly Christians, we will also have this love.

“But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9 NLT)

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” (John 15:12 NLT)

Ask the Lord that you will see the spiritual needs of others.  Pray that His compassion for the lost will be released in your life.  Pray for opportunities to reach these souls for Christ.

ARE YOU LOST?

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?  If you were to die today, do you know whether you would go to heaven to live forever with Jesus Christ?  If you cannot answer with a definite “yes!”, then bow to Jesus today.  Confess to Him that you know He died for your sins, and that He arose again for your salvation.  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.  Repent and turn from your sin. 

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

I have experienced this compassion, sympathy, pity, sorrow and weeping for the lost recently...multiple times.  The first really incredibly deep sorrow I felt took me to my knees, weeping with all my heart and soul.  I knew the Lord was putting something big on my heart and life, but I didn't know at first what it was or why I was feeling it.  It took several hours of prayer and Bible study for me to know just what the Lord was placing on me.  When it was revealed to me what it was, I wept harder and asked God to guide me in what He wanted me to do with this sorrow.  I asked God to guide me to whom this sorrow was for, to show me the spiritual needs of these individuals, and to provide me the opportunity to witness and win them for the Lord through witnessing, words, actions and behaviors.  All things will happen in God's time and I know through faith that these individuals will be brought to Christ.  I know the Lord is and will continue to use me as a tool to help accomplish this.  Thank You Lord, you are Great and Mighty!!!

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that we all seek to have broken hearts, compassion and sorrow concerning lost souls.  I pray that we all express heartfelt gratitude to You for saving our wretched souls from sin and that we never forget from that which we have been saved.  I pray that we praise You and are grateful for the salvation You have given us.  I pray that You will show us the spiritual needs of others.  I pray that Your compassion for the lost will be released in our lives.  I pray that You provide us opportunities to reach those souls for You and that we take action when these opportunities arise.  Provide us the right words, actions and behaviors in these opportunities and that you speak through us to the lost and win them for Your Kingdom.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.