PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 9:35-38
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them…” (Matthew 9:36)
When I go to a mall (now very infrequent), I enjoy people watching.
There are so many unique and different kinds of people out there.
With some I try to imagine their story, based on general things I know.
Each person has their own story, yet together they make up a crowd.
Seeing the crowds led Jesus to compassion; he sensed they were harassed and helpless.
What does seeing the crowds lead my heart to… compassion or criticism?
God sees every one of them as his precious children… what do I see them as?
Jesus knows that workers like himself – people with compassion – are few.
This is what is really sad, how few people have compassion on the crowds.
Thankfully there are some exceptions, like Jesus followers motivated by compassion.
Do you know of a gathering of Jesus followers (church) committed to compassion?
Where like Jesus they see their community not as people to criticize, but to care for?
Where the workers are plentiful, and committed to working with Jesus?
Am I lining up to join Jesus, or am I too busy just watching the crowds?
PRAYER
Lord, the workers are still few, and too often we spend more time criticizing than having compassion. Stir my heart with more than compassion, stir up my commitment to help.
“he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless”. I’ve seen a lot of people in need and I see people need close to me. How can I be heartless and ‘cool’ to them? To ignore what I see? To not let my compassion get the better of me? As I watch people at public venues – do I see what Jesus saw? The same challenge remains – how do I effectively reach out to others and be open to listen and offer help – even in a small way? May God bless programs like Urban Hope that reaches out to the homeless – they need our support as they feed many who are hungry and in need. Help me to support them as well as my own efforts to reach out to others of all walks of life. Help me not to neglect reaching out when I can. Move my compassion Lord to effective action. Open my willingness to reach out!
Without Jesus being our Pilot, we too are lost. Directionless. Not knowing why we are here.
Missions are important. Supporting and sending out missionaries is still needed this day. This is not only locally but also globally. Our lights need to shine wherever we are and wherever we are we/I need to heed His call – serve Him.
Serve Him, Serve Him,
all ye little children,
God is love, God is love;
[He is love, He is love;]
Serve Him, Serve Him,
all ye little children,
God is love, God is love.
[He is love, He is love;]