Compassion

As God looks at His people, He says, "My heart recoils within me and my compassion grows warm and tender." Consider this. When do you feel compassion? Why do you feel compassion? And what state must we be in to cause God to look at us in this way?

A Sinner Loved By God
©11-4-06 Hannah Muonio
Inspired by the book of Hosea

I look internally and ask myself
what must I be
to set the God of all things seen and not
ablaze with deep compassion?
A God from whom
I turn away in sin and steal my life
from Him who paid its price
What must I be?

What must I be
to cause the heart of God Himself to recoil
within His holy chest whene'er He looks on me?
A God on whom
I wage a war and push away as often as I
wake each day.
What must I be?

"Return--He pleads--to Me
and I will bind your wounds in bands of love
and teach you how to walk.
Don't stay--He pleads--amid
the state you're in for I cannot bear
to leave you there.
Draw near--He pleads--My side
and in compassion I will cover you
with mercy and with grace.
Only turn--He pleads--not away
from Me,
but see yourself as what you are."

And so I look internally and ask myself
what must I be
To set the God of all things seen and not
ablaze with deep compassion?
What must I be
To cause the heart of God Himself to recoil
within His holy chest whene'er He looks on me?
What must I be
To hear a plea fall from the lips of He
who rules eternity?

The answer comes
With cords of grief and hope and awe entwined;
I am a sinner loved by God.