33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Luke 10:33-34

The motivating force behind the Samaritan’s actions was compassion or love. Compassion is love in action. It is when you desire to see a change in someone and you recognize that you have the ability to effect that change. It is not just wishing for a change in somebody; that is sympathy. Compassion is when I desire to see a change in you and I find that I have got the ability to work with God and effect that change. That is what the Samaritan did. He had compassion on the man that fell among the robbers. Compassion is the motivating force you need to make your love a tangible action. Compassion is a desire to see a change for the better in a per- son’s life and then actually doing what you can, to effect that change. You might say, “I don’t have money,” but money is just one of the many ways you can show your love.

The Samaritan’s compassion drove him to make sacrifices. He poured in oil and wine. He already had that oil and wine on his donkey, so he must have packed them when he left his house for use on his journey. So pouring that oil and wine was a sacrifice. The things your brother right next door to you needs are things you need also. So I’m not talking about giving out things you don’t need. Compassion will make you sacrifice something you already made plans for.

Compassion makes a sacrifice to bring about restoration in someone’s life. I know you have other plans for yourself, but if Jesus had other plans for Himself alone, we would not have been saved. I think Jesus could have done without the torturous death He died on the cross for us. If He had an option He might have preferred an easier way, but He made a sacrifice for us. That is love in action.

Confession:
I am motivated by the force of compassion to bring about change I desire in the lives of people, and I do what I have been enabled to do to bring about that change.