Then Jesus called his disciples unto him and said, I have compassion on the multitude because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I will not send them away fasting lest they faint in the way.
Matthew 15:32 (KJV)
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Matthew 14:14 (KJV)
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.
Mark 6:34 (KJV)
Jesus had compassion. Over and over in the gospels, we see it. What we also see is that His compassion led Him to action. He didn’t just feel sorry for people. It motivated Him to do something.
So here’s the question for us....Does compassion motivate us to action? Or simply to have sympathetic feelings? Perhaps it leads us to pray. That’s good. But is there action we can take to ease others in what they are going through?
For as long as I’ve known my husband, he has ended every prayer we’ve prayed together with, “and Lord, help us meet the needs of those around us.” Honestly, it used to annoy me because it was EVERY prayer and I wondered if he was trying to tell me something, LOL! He wasn’t. But God was. I need reminding to take action when I’m able.
We can’t be all things to all people and meet every need. But we can do what we’re equipped to do.
2 Cor 1:4 in the NIV says, God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
God is not the source of our pain but He’s certainly the source of our comfort. And God never wastes anything we put in His hands. When He comforts us, He enables us and gives us the tools to comfort others.
I encourage you (and myself) to choose compassion and ask the Lord to keep us mindful of the needs of those around us!
Blessings,
Leah