CHRISTLIKE COMPASSION
Kendra Intihar
Today’s Scripture: “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Matthew 14:14 (ESV)
Theme: When you are hurting or tired, you can still serve and minister to others by the power of God.
EVEN WHEN HURTING, BE KIND
Matthew 14 gives the account of the gruesome death of Jesus’ friend, follower, and cousin, John the Baptist. When Jesus heard about John’s murder, He withdrew from the crowd, got in a boat and tried to get away by Himself. He was grieving. He just wanted to be alone in a “desolate place” to mourn and pray. When He came ashore, He saw that the crowds had followed Him. Despite wanting to be alone to grieve the loss of his cousin, the Bible tells us that Jesus “had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14b, ESV). Even in His moment of grief, Jesus had compassion on the crowds and touched their lives with the miracles and healing they were so desperately seeking.
POWER OF THE SPIRIT
This is so unusual. In fact, there is a tired, old saying, “Hurting people hurt people.” But that is not how Jesus reacted, and we must learn to follow His example. To be worn out, grief-stricken, or disappointed—and still react in love—will take the supernatural power of the Spirit. We must operate in His strength when we have none of our own.
INDISCRIMINATE WITH LOVE
Jesus didn’t hold up His hand and ask which people were worthy of His healing. He just healed them – indiscriminately and without inquiring as to whether or not they deserved it. In the same way, when God moves us to show kindness to others, He doesn’t ask us to assess whether or not they deserve our compassion – He just asks us to extend it.
Make It Personal: When we are hurting, we are loath to enter into others’ pain. We must learn to ask God, “Father, what would you have me to do to love Your child in Your stead? How should I help them?” If you, too, are worn or full of grief, ask also for the Spirit to help you. If you ask with a heart that is ready to hear and obey, you will surely hear from God.
Pray: Father, I am sometimes frazzled and tired of drama and pain and need. Help me to always call upon You for strength and discernment when I am presented with a need. Help me to access Your power and compassion to love others as You love them. Amen. Weekly Memory Verse: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32, ESV
Read: Matthew 14:13-18; James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:17-18
Weekly Memory Verse: “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Romans 10:13-14, ESV