Many of today’s great humanitarian institutions that exist to bring healing and education began as reflections of the compassion human beings saw in the character of God. At times of crisis or tragedy, religious people are among the first to bring aid and assist in reconstruction. The same compassion that motivated Christ during His earthly ministry is demonstrated still among His followers. For the Christian, compassion is not just a suggestion, but an imperative.—Editors.

“The first service one owes to others . . . consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for [others] is learning to listen to them. It is God’s love for us that He not only gives us His Word but also lends us His ear. So it is His work that we do for our brothers and sisters when we learn to listen to them.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight. While little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight. While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight. While there is a drunkard left, while there is a lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the love of God, I’ll fight—I’ll fight to the very end!”

William Booth

“Jesus saw people and felt their pain, loneliness, misery, hopelessness, and desperation—even when it was hidden in plain sight from everyone else. The Greek verb translated ‘had compassion’ or ‘moved with compassion’ in the Gospels is the word splagchnizomai. It means to be deeply moved in the inward parts. Today, we might say it means to be so moved that we feel it in our core, deep within ourselves—in our gut. But to feel compassion is not only to encounter and emotion, it’s to be moved to action.”

Christine Caine

While you were sleeping, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition.

Tony Campolo

“Go home  to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”

JESUS (MARK 5:19)

“Instead of allowing yourself to be so unhappy, just let your love grow as God wants it to grow. . . .  Love more persons more; love them more impersonally, more unselfishly, without thoughts of return. Never fear, the return will take care of itself.”

Henry Drummond

“It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor.”

Martin Luther

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”

JOHN (1 JOHN 3:17)

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

PETER (1 PETER 3:8)

“At the end of the day, you have to be able to look yourself in the mirror and say, ‘I stood up for the voiceless and for the poor and the hungry.’”

Patricia Heaton

“Jesus’ decree to love and pray for our opponents is regarded as one of the most breathtaking and gut-wrenching challenges of His entire Sermon on the Mount, a speech renowned for its outrageous claims. There was no record of any other spiritual leader ever having articulated such a clear-cut, unambiguous command for people to express compassion to those who are actively working against their best interests.”

Lee Strobel

“If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.”

William Wilberforce

“The same compassion that reached out to rescue Peter is extended to every soul who has fallen under temptation. It is Satan’s special device to lead [men and women] into sin, and then leave [them], helpless and trembling, fearing to seek for pardon. But why should we fear, when God has said, ‘Let [them] take hold of my strength, that [they] may make peace with me; and [they] shall make peace with me’? Isa. 27:5. Every provision has been made for our infirmities, every encouragement offered us to come to Christ.”

Ellen G. White (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 156)