Compassion
Matthew 9:35-38 (CSB)
Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”
Reflection
Are you sensitive to the needs of others? I know I can get so caught up in the busyness of my life that I can completely forget about others. I don’t do it intentionally; I just don’t think about it sometimes. Fortunately, that’s not how Jesus operated because He always put others’ needs before His own. Jesus loved well and modeled this to His disciples. In the same way we can emulate that loving behavior.
When Jesus was traveling and preaching the good news of salvation, He always made time to be relational. He got personal with people and took time to hear their stories. Once He heard them, He acted, showing compassion for their situations. On several occasions, He sat and ate with people and answered their questions. Jesus didn’t allow economic or social factors to impede His judgment. Whether rich or poor, young or old, influential or outcast, Jesus was concerned for everyone’s well-being. He even broke cultural norms of the time by sitting and speaking with a Samaritan woman and offering her salvation. He saw and met the needs of the people and then offered them so much more. He performed life-changing miracles and even cried with His friends when Lazarus died, fully knowing that He was going to raise His friend from the dead.
It’s Jesus’ deep compassion for people that leads him to say, “Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest” (verse 38). Here, Jesus invites His disciples to take part in the process of spreading the gospel because he sees the people’s need for a Savior. By Jesus walking and interacting with people, He demonstrates that God is not distant or out of touch. Jesus has compassion for His children, and He wants to be the Good Shepherd to anyone who places their faith in Him.
Action Steps
1. Take some time today to show compassion to someone you normally wouldn’t. Try to see their perspective and truly listen to them. Have this scripture in your mind while you are listening compassionately:
James 1:19(NLT) – “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
2. Spend time with God today and ask Him to show you how much He loves you.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and choosing me despite my faults. I want to be obedient to Your word and to Your Holy Spirit. Show me how to love others and see people how You see them. Help my life show who You are through my actions towards others. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”
Reflection
Are you sensitive to the needs of others? I know I can get so caught up in the busyness of my life that I can completely forget about others. I don’t do it intentionally; I just don’t think about it sometimes. Fortunately, that’s not how Jesus operated because He always put others’ needs before His own. Jesus loved well and modeled this to His disciples. In the same way we can emulate that loving behavior.
When Jesus was traveling and preaching the good news of salvation, He always made time to be relational. He got personal with people and took time to hear their stories. Once He heard them, He acted, showing compassion for their situations. On several occasions, He sat and ate with people and answered their questions. Jesus didn’t allow economic or social factors to impede His judgment. Whether rich or poor, young or old, influential or outcast, Jesus was concerned for everyone’s well-being. He even broke cultural norms of the time by sitting and speaking with a Samaritan woman and offering her salvation. He saw and met the needs of the people and then offered them so much more. He performed life-changing miracles and even cried with His friends when Lazarus died, fully knowing that He was going to raise His friend from the dead.
It’s Jesus’ deep compassion for people that leads him to say, “Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest” (verse 38). Here, Jesus invites His disciples to take part in the process of spreading the gospel because he sees the people’s need for a Savior. By Jesus walking and interacting with people, He demonstrates that God is not distant or out of touch. Jesus has compassion for His children, and He wants to be the Good Shepherd to anyone who places their faith in Him.
Action Steps
1. Take some time today to show compassion to someone you normally wouldn’t. Try to see their perspective and truly listen to them. Have this scripture in your mind while you are listening compassionately:
James 1:19(NLT) – “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
2. Spend time with God today and ask Him to show you how much He loves you.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and choosing me despite my faults. I want to be obedient to Your word and to Your Holy Spirit. Show me how to love others and see people how You see them. Help my life show who You are through my actions towards others. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
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