Heart Of Compassion
Title: Heart of Compassion
Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38 - Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Jesus looked at the crowd of people that followed Him. He referred to them as a field ripe for harvest. Jesus saw the crowd as an opportunity to meet their physical and spiritual needs. (Matthew 6:32) Jesus didn’t reject the crowd, but He accepted them with all of their heartaches, pain and disappointments. Jesus came to give them and us hope, encouragement, and above all salvation. After all, Jesus is the bread of life. (John 6:35 - And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger…..) Yes – Jesus is the spiritual bread to fill the hungry heart now! (Matthew 4:4) I am so grateful that Jesus is the living water that will satisfy the thirsty soul now! (John 4:10, 13-15 - Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. … 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”)
Are you hungry for Jesus – the spiritual bread of life? Are you thirsty for Jesus – the living water that satisfies the thirsty soul? Jesus moved with a heart full of compassion for the people! (Matthew 14:14) Points from Jesus’ life to help us take action to have a heart full of compassion for people are:
(1) Let mercy, kindness, love, flow out of your heart. (Psalm 86:15)
(2) Jesus reached out to the people. He valued their lives. He had feelings for them, and He was touched by them. (Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.)
(3) He demonstrated His love as a good Shepherd by laying down His life for the sheep. (John 10:11-12, 18 - I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them….18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”) God wants to use you to meet a person’s physical and spiritual needs. Can you think of someone in your family, on your job, in your church, or in your community, that God wants you to show compassion toward? It is an honor to serve the Lord – with a heart full of compassion!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father: We are humbly asking you to help us to have a heart like Your Son Jesus Christ – full of compassion for others. Please send more laborers (us) into the field to be used to spread the good news of salvation to people of this world before it is too late. Time is running out. The handwriting is on the wall. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
By Pastor Robert Williams
Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38 - Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Jesus looked at the crowd of people that followed Him. He referred to them as a field ripe for harvest. Jesus saw the crowd as an opportunity to meet their physical and spiritual needs. (Matthew 6:32) Jesus didn’t reject the crowd, but He accepted them with all of their heartaches, pain and disappointments. Jesus came to give them and us hope, encouragement, and above all salvation. After all, Jesus is the bread of life. (John 6:35 - And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger…..) Yes – Jesus is the spiritual bread to fill the hungry heart now! (Matthew 4:4) I am so grateful that Jesus is the living water that will satisfy the thirsty soul now! (John 4:10, 13-15 - Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. … 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”)
Are you hungry for Jesus – the spiritual bread of life? Are you thirsty for Jesus – the living water that satisfies the thirsty soul? Jesus moved with a heart full of compassion for the people! (Matthew 14:14) Points from Jesus’ life to help us take action to have a heart full of compassion for people are:
(1) Let mercy, kindness, love, flow out of your heart. (Psalm 86:15)
(2) Jesus reached out to the people. He valued their lives. He had feelings for them, and He was touched by them. (Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.)
(3) He demonstrated His love as a good Shepherd by laying down His life for the sheep. (John 10:11-12, 18 - I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them….18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”) God wants to use you to meet a person’s physical and spiritual needs. Can you think of someone in your family, on your job, in your church, or in your community, that God wants you to show compassion toward? It is an honor to serve the Lord – with a heart full of compassion!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father: We are humbly asking you to help us to have a heart like Your Son Jesus Christ – full of compassion for others. Please send more laborers (us) into the field to be used to spread the good news of salvation to people of this world before it is too late. Time is running out. The handwriting is on the wall. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
By Pastor Robert Williams
4 Comments
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for spiritual eyes to see souls. Help us to take every opportunity to give compassion and love to others. May the few laborers continue to be strengthened daily to do the work. May Your kingdom increase with many more coming to serve You. You're a Wonderful Master who invites all to the Kingdom of grace. We love you Jesus as our example to look out among the people!
Amen ðŸ™ðŸ½
Thank you Lord for today's devotion. A beautiful reminder for me to remember my calling and purpose Matthew 28 and Isaiah 61.
Thank you for this devotional! It is a reminder and gives excellent examples of the importance of having a heart of compassion.