For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV

Have you ever had someone come to your rescue when things were seeming to fall apart? I’m not talking about a life-or-death situation or even a dangerous one. I’m talking about those times when you are baking a cake and instead of measuring the sugar you grab the salt and right before you put it into the mix your mom grabs your hand and stops you from pouring that dangerously similar-looking ingredient into your perfectly good cake. I may or may not be speaking from experience, but you get the point. Sometimes a rescue comes in the form of someone taking pity on you and stepping in when they don’t have to, sometimes it comes in ways we couldn’t even imagine.

 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, - Romans 3:23 NKJV

The Bible is clear, we have sinned and cannot reach the glory of God. But the God of the Bible is a God of compassion. The famous declaration of God in Exodus 34 is repeated all throughout the Bible. The Psalmists repeat it saying “ But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” Psalm 86:15 God is full of compassion towards us and he is seeking to express that every day. Compassion is not something you earn. Compassion is an act of love in reaction to something going on at that moment. Compassion is an action word not simply a feeling but a feeling that is acted upon. Without action, compassion is simply empty pity. Thankfully God is a God of action. 

In the wilderness the children of Israel were complainers. They complained over and over again. The Bible records their complaints on 15 different occasions. What a lousy group of people! Yet God made a covenant with them and in this Covenant, He vowed to be their God, and so God took care of them. Famously God took care of their need every day for years as he delivered mana from heaven. I know that there are times when I complain more than I should. Let’s be honest sometimes it feels good to just complain. To really let God know the problems that are going on and how I do not feel that things are going well. Just like the children of Israel, I am sure God has heard every one of my complaints but still has been working to bless me every day. 

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV

The God of the Israelites sent them manna from heaven even though they complained over and over again. Sometimes we think that our complaining and attitudes toward God exclude us from his mercies. Sometimes we feel as though in order to receive compassion from God we must give Him something. God is not a transactional God. We cannot pay him with any form of currency or act in order to receive his compassion. Instead, it is a gift. This gift is offered free to us but God paid a price. If we tried to pay our way into salvation we would end up paying for something very different. 

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 NKJV

On the cross, Jesus paid for the sins of the world so that this gift could be given to us freely. We do not deserve it yet it is given to us. Although we complain God is seeking to provide for us. While on the cross Christ expressed his other-centered nature as he looked out upon the people that were putting him to death. He said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” - Luke 23:34 NKJV The savior of the world was dying, in pain, suffering for us and He looked upon those who afflicted him with compassion, seeking forgiveness for them. 

This same Jesus is seeking you today, seeking to forgive you. We do not deserve his compassions but they are new every day. We complain, we accuse, we fight against Him, but he is seeking you. How will you respond to the compassion and grace being offered to you today?