Compassion moved Jesus to be willing. “Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed’” (Mark 1:41, NASB).
Even with a couple’s willingness, compassion often wears down after time. At first in most relationships, a husband or wife is willing to do whatever a spouse wants or needs, desiring to meet their every need.
However, over the years, many spouses lose their willingness to compassionately reach out to one another. Sitcoms like “Everybody Loves Raymond,” portray the indifferences that can build up between spouses.
Sadly, a husband or wife can fall into a routine of indifference, where each other’s needs are overlooked and ignored. Still Galatians 6:9, encourages, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
In marriage it’s vital to keep a check on our hearts and attitudes. It’s important to ask ourselves if we’ve lost our willingness to practice compassion towards our spouse, to see if we’ve built up a resistance towards doing so, especially if our spouse has disappointed or hurt us over the years.
While we may feel great compassion for others, it might be difficult for us to recognize if our hearts have grown hardened towards our husband or wife.
2. Jesus Is Observant
Seeing others’ desperate situations often moved Jesus to compassion. “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14).
Likewise, we’re urged to, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
As spouses, when we see our husband or wife struggling emotionally, spiritually, or physically, maybe worn out by responsibilities, illness, or stress, we can step in to compassionately offer prayer, support, comfort, and relief, by taking care of some of their responsibilities and helping to carry their burdens.
Romans 15:1, reminds us, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”
3. Jesus Runs Interference
Compassion motivated Jesus to run interference by stepping in and stopping the attacks by the devil against people who were being oppressed. Matthew 9:36 explains how “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Sometimes our spouses need us to run interference for them, to step in a situation and help support and resist attacks being brought against them. Whether it’s from people or spiritual forces, we can offer strength and help to them in troubled times.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/fizkes
