As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, we are instructed to clothe ourselves with compassion. Compassion is often misunderstood as merely having tender-hearted feelings or doing nice things for those less advantaged, yet it encompasses much more. It reflects the Golden Rule: doing to others what we would want done to us. God's compassion, as shown in Scripture, is profound and renewing, with His compassions refreshed every morning, offering comfort during heavy trials. He deeply cares for His people, seeing their oppression, hearing their cries, and knowing their sorrows. In the life of Jesus Christ, compassion is vividly demonstrated as a visceral reaction, a deep inner movement when witnessing suffering. He was moved with compassion upon seeing great multitudes, healing their sick, feeding the hungry who had been with Him for days, and comforting a widow in her grief by telling her not to weep. True compassion, as exemplified by Him, means suffering together, sharing in another's pain, and truly feeling their anguish within ourselves.

Compassion, as a virtue, is often portrayed as a defining characteristic in political rhetoric, with Democrats positioning themselves as more compassionate than Republicans through advocacy for minority rights, welfare, universal healthcare, amnesty, labor unions, and choice. However, compassion is not an inviolable virtue and can be abused by impure motives, used to gain sympathy, votes, and power. True compassion, as exemplified by Jesus Christ, is an outpouring of selfless concern for the ultimate well-being of another, expressed in sacrificial action. In various instances, He showed compassion for those in dire need—lepers, widows, the blind, and weary multitudes—performing miracles to alleviate their suffering without seeking personal gain. His actions were driven by outgoing concern, aiming to draw people closer to God, without ulterior motives or demands for reciprocation. His compassion extended to giving His life for humanity while they were still unworthy, demonstrating a love that never ends and promises eternal life in His Kingdom. In contrast, the compassion displayed by political parties often appears contrived, used as a tool to attract favor rather than to genuinely address deep-rooted issues.

Kindness is the feeling of compassion in action, encompassing the right thoughts, words, gestures, and deeds. It reciprocates God's sacrificial love outwardly to others, requiring effort to develop and put on each day. Only through God's enabling Spirit, bonded by humble daily sacrifice and obedience, can we perform acts of kindness that control our minds to think positively of others and seek opportunities to serve. Kindness bridles our tongue, never complaining, and never speaks evil of anyone, giving readily to those in need without keeping score. God's Spirit of kindness forbears, forgives, and accepts loss of self-esteem to maintain peace. True kindness arises from spiritual transformation and submission to God, especially in challenging situations. It is not optional but a necessary response to the forgiveness and compassion we have received from Him. God's fruit of kindness is freely given to everyone, whether deserved or not, reflecting His character of being kind to the unthankful and the evil. When we understand the fullness of God's great mercy and kindness, we are empowered by His Holy Spirit to exhibit this humble sacrifice of kindness to all, regardless of merit. During a desperate time on a ship in the ocean, we tasted the kindness of our great God and His Family, sustaining and strengthening us through the longest 36 hours of our lives. Each card, call, email, and text of encouragement from brethren strengthened us, producing the fruit of God's lovingkindness through daily sacrifices. These small acts of kindness, though not requiring much time or effort, are especially sweet to those in need and are a major factor in producing unity. As God's elect, we are called to be a shining light to this world by working harder to exhibit His fruit of kindness. Whether through a friendly greeting, a smile, encouraging words, or a simple gesture like letting someone into traffic, kindness given without expectation of return transforms our selfish carnal mind into a selfless, godly one. Each act of kindness, as a daily living sacrifice, extends His kindness to others, developing a heart attuned to their needs and ready to reach out when the opportunity arises.

God is love, and this truth defines His very nature. His love, known as agape, reflects a willful direction toward humanity, always seeking what is best for us, even when it differs from our desires. As John 3:16 reveals, God so loved the world that He gave His Son as a sacrifice, providing a path for reconciliation and justification through repentance. This love is not merely an emotion but an outgoing concern, marked by benevolence, kindness, sympathy, and generosity in His dealings with us. His overarching plan is philanthropic on the grandest scale, aiming to elevate mankind to participate in the Kingdom of God. Love originates from God, and as we exhibit it, we reflect His Spirit and take on the nature of our Father. Those who reflect this love demonstrate they are born of Him, while those who do not, regardless of their knowledge, fail to truly know Him. God's love stands in stark contrast to the hatred, greed, and wrath that stem from another source. Despite the turmoil and suffering in the world, which may cause some to question His love, God allows humanity to learn through experience, holding a higher future in store for us. His love is evident in the world He has created, in the rain that falls on both the just and unjust, in His patience, and most profoundly in sending His Son as a sacrifice for our sins, even when we were ignorant of or opposed to His way. We perceive God's love through the ultimate act of Him laying down His life for us, as expressed in I John 3:16. In response, we are called to lay down our lives for one another, loving others both within and outside the church as God loves us. By doing so, we perfect His love in us, growing in His nature and moving toward perfection. This love, when actively applied in our relationships, completes us and aligns us with His character, allowing us to stand boldly before Him. Perfect love casts out fear, and though we may face apprehensions in this world, we are to work on perfecting our love, faith, and trust in God, knowing He will help us. We love Him because He first loved us, and this love is not ours but God's love within us. As the Father and the Son love, so must we strive to love our fellow man. If we harbor hatred toward others, we lack God's love. True disciples of Jesus Christ are identified by this love for one another, a sign as significant as keeping the Sabbath. Our calling is to become like Him, reflecting His patience, kindness, longsuffering, wisdom, courage, thoughtfulness, concern, and willingness to serve, thereby embodying the true love of God.