Lesson 4: God's Love is Compassionate
 
 Luke 15:11-24 "And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."

 This is not just a story about the son's need of forgiveness but of a father's incredible compassion. You see, the word "compassion" here is more than just an emotional feeling. It was "a loving action generated out of pity."

 This is exactly what we see with this father. Out of pity he refrained from giving his son what he rightly deserved.

He showed compassion for his son! And not by just having pity for him, but he threw a party for him! That is love!

We live in a world that no longer pleads for the compassion of God. People today no longer think they are pitiful. They think they are wonderful. They do not think they need pity from God. They think they are owed a party from God! I would rather have pity than a hell kind of party!

Therefore, in order to better appreciate the love of God, we take a closer look at the compassion of God.

Thought Question: Why do we think we deserve compassion?