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. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Matthew 9:35-37 (NKJV)
If you were one of the passengers on the Titanic, and it started to sink, would you give up a spot on one of the lifeboats for someone else? Im speaking of you already knowing the outcome of the event, and as if you were being put in the position right now. How would you react? Well, on paper, if youre a Christian, then you should know, to be absent form the body is to be present with the Lord.
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV)
So why not look around and trade with someone who didnt know the Lord?
That is exactly what Jesus did when he came to earth. He knew the outcome for all those who had sinned, and He was willing to exchange His life, for theirs.
The Scripture above captures Jesus attitude when he looked out at the multitude of people, as He was moved with compassion.
Ephesians 5:1 tells us that we are to be imitators of God, so, as Christians, we too, should be compassionate on others.
As we look at the people around us each day, there are so many who dont know Jesus as Lord and Savior as of yet, and they dont know of the love and provision that is there for them.
"These people are in our work places
"Theyre in our families
"Theyre at the ball fields
"Theyre in the grocery, and department stores
"Theyre within our circle of friends
"Theyre in our neighborhoods
As Christian men and women, we need to have compassionate hearts just like our Lord does. We can do this when we remember how much mercy is being given to us by the Lord, and by praying to the Him to open our eyes to see people as He does.
The next thing we see in this scripture is that Jesus noticed that those that He was looking upon were weary.
We can look around and see the same thing today as we look upon others and we see the stress and strain of anxiety and worry all about their faces. Try as they may, they cannot hide the signs of disappointment, and of losing hope in what this world has to offer.
So when we see others tired, beat and weary, we need to stop and encourage them, and pray for them, right then and there. Dont worry what other people might think, because truth be told, everyone needs, and will usually accept prayer.
Why is this? Because deep down, they know that God exists, and even though they might not have wanted to acknowledge Him before, they know that they need Him now.
In Part II of this devotional, well take a look at the last two things that we can see that our Lord observed, as he looked out at all the lost people wandering around.
STUDY QUESTION: According to the Scriptures above, what was Jesus attitude towards seeing so many people lost, and weary?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you compassionate on those you see who are beat down, and weary; those who are lost without a shepherd?
APPLICATION: Ask God to give you a compassionate heart for the lost and weary today.
If you were one of the passengers on the Titanic, and it started to sink, would you give up a spot on one of the lifeboats for someone else? Im speaking of you already knowing the outcome of the event, and as if you were being put in the position right now. How would you react? Well, on paper, if youre a Christian, then you should know, to be absent form the body is to be present with the Lord.
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV)
So why not look around and trade with someone who didnt know the Lord?
That is exactly what Jesus did when he came to earth. He knew the outcome for all those who had sinned, and He was willing to exchange His life, for theirs.
The Scripture above captures Jesus attitude when he looked out at the multitude of people, as He was moved with compassion.
Ephesians 5:1 tells us that we are to be imitators of God, so, as Christians, we too, should be compassionate on others.
As we look at the people around us each day, there are so many who dont know Jesus as Lord and Savior as of yet, and they dont know of the love and provision that is there for them.
"These people are in our work places
"Theyre in our families
"Theyre at the ball fields
"Theyre in the grocery, and department stores
"Theyre within our circle of friends
"Theyre in our neighborhoods
As Christian men and women, we need to have compassionate hearts just like our Lord does. We can do this when we remember how much mercy is being given to us by the Lord, and by praying to the Him to open our eyes to see people as He does.
The next thing we see in this scripture is that Jesus noticed that those that He was looking upon were weary.
We can look around and see the same thing today as we look upon others and we see the stress and strain of anxiety and worry all about their faces. Try as they may, they cannot hide the signs of disappointment, and of losing hope in what this world has to offer.
So when we see others tired, beat and weary, we need to stop and encourage them, and pray for them, right then and there. Dont worry what other people might think, because truth be told, everyone needs, and will usually accept prayer.
Why is this? Because deep down, they know that God exists, and even though they might not have wanted to acknowledge Him before, they know that they need Him now.
In Part II of this devotional, well take a look at the last two things that we can see that our Lord observed, as he looked out at all the lost people wandering around.
STUDY QUESTION: According to the Scriptures above, what was Jesus attitude towards seeing so many people lost, and weary?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you compassionate on those you see who are beat down, and weary; those who are lost without a shepherd?
APPLICATION: Ask God to give you a compassionate heart for the lost and weary today.
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