Jesus embodied verses six through eight, in Psalms 146. He had compassion on the lowly and downtrodden, widows and orphans, the blind and lame, those imprisoned both by demons and even religious oppression — there was no one he didn’t have compassion for.

A few years ago, I took a gifts test through our church. My lowest number was in compassion. I make jokes about it but really it hurt. I have compassion I just don’t have it for every single situation. My heart breaks when I hear of children who are forced to live with parents that don’t take care of them and there are others who would love nothing more than to love on them and care for them. Or the story of the combat vet who is sitting in his truck on the side of the road brought to his knees with the images of war. However, I don’t have a whole lot of compassion for those who do things, knowing that there’s a possibility they could get in trouble.

But still, we could always take a lesson from these verses, and the character of Jesus. After the last couple of years, I think compassion and understanding is something that this world needs. But not from just anyone. They need to know the love, the grace, and the mercy that can only be found in Christ.