# 5 How to See Others Through God’s Eyes: Developing True Compassion
- lorijanehawkins
- Jul 1
- 5 min read
In today’s fast-paced, information-heavy world, it’s easy to become numb to the pain around us. Yet, as followers of Christ, we are called to something deeper: to see others through God’s eyes and respond with true compassion.
In our hyperconnected world, we're exposed to more human suffering than any generation before us. Yet paradoxically, research shows we're becoming less empathetic, not more. As Christians called to reflect God's heart, how do we develop the kind of biblical compassion in action that truly transforms lives?
Why Compassion Matters More Than Ever
The Bible shows us that compassion is central to God’s character. Psalm 86:15 says, “You, Lord, are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” Jesus modeled this perfectly: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36, NIV). The Greek word splanchnizomai used here literally means to be moved in your gut—a deep, visceral empathy that compels action.
When we look at Christian compassion examples throughout Scripture, we see Jesus consistently moved by people's deepest needs.
Modern science confirms the power of compassion. Studies reveal that people who regularly practice compassion have lower stress levels and better health outcomes, including longer life expectancy (Post, 2011). Neuroscience research shows compassion training changes brain areas linked to empathy and emotional regulation (Klimecki et al., 2013).
What Is Biblical Compassion?
Biblical compassion goes beyond pity—it is a deep, gut-level empathy that moves us to action. Colossians 3:12 instructs us to “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Compassion is foundational to Christian character.
Jesus’ healing of the man with leprosy (Mark 1:40-42) shows compassion in action—crossing social boundaries and risking personal cost to bring healing. Compassion sees beyond surface behavior to the deeper needs of the heart.
What Makes Biblical Compassion Different
Developing compassion as a Christian goes far beyond feeling sorry for someone. True biblical compassion has three distinct characteristics that set it apart from mere sympathy:
1. It Sees Beyond Surface Behavior
When Jesus encountered the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), He saw past her actions to her heart's cry for love and acceptance. Compassion in the Bible consistently demonstrates this deeper vision—looking beyond what people do to understand why they do it.
2. It Feels Deeply Without Becoming Overwhelmed
Unlike worldly empathy that can lead to emotional burnout, biblical compassion draws from God's inexhaustible love. Jesus never experienced "compassion fatigue" because His empathy was rooted in divine love, not human emotion alone.
3. It Acts Sacrificially
True compassion costs something. When Jesus healed the man with leprosy in Mark 1:40-42, He risked ritual uncleanness and social rejection. He didn't just feel moved—He moved toward the person's need, regardless of personal cost.
Practical Ways to Show Compassion: A Three-Step Approach
How to serve others biblically with genuine compassion involves intentional practices that transform both heart and action:
Step 1: Pray for Compassionate Eyes
Begin each day asking God to help you see others as He does. Research by Sinclair et al. (2022) suggests that prayer and mindfulness practices significantly enhance empathetic responses and compassionate behavior.
Daily Prayer: "God, help me see people today through Your eyes of love. Show me their needs, move my heart with compassion, and give me courage to act."
Step 2: Practice Perspective-Taking
Serving others with empathy requires understanding the unseen struggles behind people's actions. A landmark Stanford study found that perspective-taking increases pro-social behavior by 41% (Galinsky & Moskowitz, 2000).
When someone is difficult or rude, ask yourself:
What pain might be driving this behavior?
What fears or insecurities could be underneath?
How might God want to show love to this person through me?
Step 3: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
Jesus consistently showed compassion to those others avoided—lepers, tax collectors, foreigners. Christian living compassion often requires crossing social boundaries.
Research by Pettigrew and Tropp (2006) demonstrates that cross-cultural service significantly increases empathy and reduces prejudice. This week, identify one group you typically avoid and find a specific way to show them practical compassion.
Your 7-Day Practical Christian Compassion Challenge
Ready to put biblical compassion in action? Try this compassion challenge for Christians:
Each day for one week, show compassion to:
One family member - Look beyond their familiar exterior to see a need they might not express
One acquaintance or coworker - Practice perspective-taking with someone you interact with but don't know well
One stranger - Show dignity and kindness to someone whose service you typically take for granted
Daily Reflection Questions:
Which act of compassion felt most natural? Most challenging?
What needs did you notice that you'd previously missed?
How did showing compassion change your own emotional state?
The Ripple Effect of Compassionate Service
When we consistently practice ways to show compassion, we don't just help others—we become more like Jesus ourselves. Neuroplasticity research shows that compassion practices create lasting brain changes that increase empathy for months after the practice period (Klimecki et al., 2013).
Remember Jesus' words in Matthew 25:40 (NIV): "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Every act of compassion becomes an act of worship.
Moving Forward with Compassionate Hearts
Developing compassion as a Christian is a lifelong journey, not a destination. Some days your heart will overflow with empathy; other days you'll need to choose compassion despite not feeling it naturally. Both are part of spiritual growth.
Colossians 3:12 (NIV) reminds us to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Like getting dressed each morning, putting on compassion is a daily, intentional choice.
As Mother Teresa wisely said, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one." Biblical compassion in action starts small but multiplies exponentially when rooted in God's love.
The world desperately needs Christians who don't just talk about love but demonstrate it through compassionate service. Will you be known as someone who walked past pain or someone who walked toward it with healing hands?
References
Galinsky, A. D., & Moskowitz, G. B. (2000). Perspective-taking: Decreasing stereotype expression, stereotype accessibility, and in-group favoritism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(4), 708–724.
Klimecki, O. M., Leiberg, S., Lamm, C., & Singer, T. (2013). Functional neural plasticity and associated changes in positive affect after compassion training. Cerebral Cortex, 23(7), 1552–1561.
Pettigrew, T. F., & Tropp, L. R. (2006). A meta-analytic test of intergroup contact theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(5), 751–783.
Post, S. G. (2011). Compassionate care enhancement: benefits and outcomes. International Journal of Person Centered Medicine, 1(4), 808–813.
Sinclair, S., et al. (2022). Compassion in healthcare: an updated scoping review of the literature. BMC Medical Education, 22, 388.
The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV).
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