The second component of prayer is COMPASSION.
We will concentrate on two (there are more) significant elements of compassion, love (Greek agape - fellowship love) and mercy. In the O.T. passage describing the dedication of Solomon's temple, God confirms: "My eyes and my heart will always be there". The N.T. passage prescribes BAPTISM after repentance. How might baptism be considered compassion? It shows God's mercy! Note: "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done BUT BECAUSE OF HIS MERCY. He saved us THROUGH THE WASHING OF REBIRTH and renewal by the Holy Spirit . . . (Titus 3: 4-5).
Similarly Paul instructs the church at Ephesis that husbands are to LOVE their wives "as Christ LOVED the church . . . cleansing her by the WASHING WITH WATER . . .(Eph. 5: 25-26). The Lord's Prayer testimony can be seen in "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Matthew tells us that our Father in heaven is NOT WILLING that any be lost (Mt. 18: 14). Peter notes that the Lord is patient with us NOT WANTING ANYONE TO PERISH BUT EVERYONE TO COME TO REPENTANCE (2 Peter 3: 9). We have already established that salvation is a result of God's mercy. Therefore compassion is encompassed in the Lord's Prayer.
Let's move on to other links between compassion and prayer. Peter writes: "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled SO THAT YOU CAN PRAY. ABOVE ALL LOVE EACH OTHER DEEPLY, BECAUSE LOVE COVERS OVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS" (1 Peter 4: 7-8). Daniel prayed to the Lord and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His COVENANT OF LOVE . . . (Dn. 9: 4). In his book of Lamentations the writer, after admitting to sin and rebellion, gives one result that God made happen: "You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through" (Lam. 3: 44). Fortunately, he had previously understood about God that: "Though He brings grief, He will show COMPASSION, so great is His UNFAILING LOVE" (Lam. 3: 32). The connection between compassion and prayer is irrefutable.
There are several other links worth dealing with. David revealed: "The Lord has heard my cry for MERCY; the Lord accepts my PRAYER" (Ps. 6: 9). The psalmist notes about God that: "He will respond to the PRAYER of the DESTITUTE" (Ps. 102: 17). We might comment here that it seems that God reserves a "special" mercy for the "down and out". I have heard innumerable testimonies to this effect bordering on the supernatural. Nonetheless, this is still in keeping with the overall component of compassion. Luke notes:
". . . He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" . . . then this instruction:
"Be MERCIFUL, just as your Father is MERCIFUL" (Lk. 6: 35-36). Another excellent Scriptural reference is The Parable of the Good Samaritan
(Lk. 10: 25-37).
In closing this section please carefully examine the instruction given to
Timothy (1 Timothy 2:1-4) by Paul: "I urge, then, first of all that REQUESTS, PRAYERS, INTERCESSION and THANKSGIVING be made for everyone . . . that WE MAY LIVE PEACEFUL AND QUIET LIVES IN ALL GODLINESS AND HOLINESS. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, WHO WANTS ALL MEN TO BE SAVED and to come to a knowledge of the TRUTH. Before moving on to TRUTH, let us state clearly the second element of true prayer which is to
PRAY HAVING RECEIVED AND DEMONSTRATED COMPASSION.
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Translator
True Prayer
True Gospel
