Monday, 9 October 2023
COMPASSION IS A FORCE
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean (Mark 1:41).
Recall what we said in our previous study about compassion: a strong desire to ease the pain of others. Compassion compels one to action. Compassion is a force.
When you study Jesus and the way He ministered, you'd observe that He was often moved by compassion. Every time He had compassion on, or was moved with compassion for someone, He did something to change the situation.
Compassion moved Him to teach the people, feed them, and heal them. Mark 6:34 says, "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things." Matthew 14:14 says, ''And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick."
Compassion moved Him to raise the only son of a widow back to life in a city called Nain. When Jesus saw the widow, the Bible says,"...he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not" (Luke 7:13). He then touched the casket and commanded the dead man to get up, and he came back to life.
Matthew 20:30 tells us of two blind men who cried after Jesus, saying: "Son of David, have mercy upon us!" Jesus stopped to ask them what they wanted and they replied that they wanted to receive their sight. The Bible says, "So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him" (Matthew 20:34).
So, like the Master, we're to be full of compassion. Change comes when we're moved with compassion. We're His express image today. He's counting on you to be moved with compassion and do something for those in need; change the lives and circumstances of those in your world. You've been empowered by the Spirit to take action, offer comfort and be a vessel of God's love and kindness to ahurting world.
PRAYER: Dear Father, I'm stirred by the examples of Jesus who being moved with compassion brought healing, strength, comfort and hope to those in need. I'm empowered by your Spirit to take action, to offer comfort, and to be a vessel of your love and kindness to a hurting world, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 145:8; Psalm 112:4
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 2:6-23 & Isaiah 48-49
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 4:43-54 & 1 Kings 15