“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
Compassion is one of the things that people need more than anything else in this world. There is so much suffering and pain that people need someone to approach them with the compassion of God.
Compassion is an action brought by the Holy Spirit that responds to people’s needs. It is much deeper than sympathy and even empathy. Sympathy can be content to sit back and feel sorry for people. Compassion urges us to do something for others.
Compassion is an important part of God’s character. Jesus’ life on earth reflected his compassion in action. His entire ministry was guided by compassion. It was this compassion to heal the sick, to cast out demons, to raise the dead and even to feed a multitude by multiplying five loaves and two fish. It was His compassion for men that led Him to the Cross. And it is this same compassion that He desires to pour out on you now and also through you.
It is wonderful to realise that we believers are the body of Jesus on this earth. And His greatest desire is to continue and teach what He started when He lived on this earth. He wants to bring His healing power through our hands and our faith. His compassion wants to send us to feed the hungry, and it wants to send us to cast out demons and set the captives free.
We must also remember that it was through prayer and his relationship with the Father that Jesus developed his ministry of compassion. Read the Gospels and realise how much time Jesus spent alone with His heavenly Father. This time activated God’s compassion in Him. He felt God’s sorrow for the suffering of humanity. This stimulated Him so much that whenever He saw a need, He responded with the power of God.
Let us follow his example and spend time in communion with our heavenly Father. Let us meditate on his compassion until it works strongly in us. And let us stir it up until the desire to see others set free becomes paramount in our thoughts and priorities.
When you allow His compassion to dwell in you and move through you, you will notice that your own challenges will fade or disappear, because you are no longer focused on yourself. And when you approach others to do the ministry of Jesus today in this generation, great joy and favour from God will come upon you.
The Spirit of God wants to come upon you and release that compassion to bring His love with a demonstration of power. As Jesus did when He lived on this earth, He will do it through you.
Prayer: Lord, my God, I want to open myself to your compassion. Holy Spirit, I allow you to release this character from You, my Father. And as you release your compassion in me, use me to manifest Jesus through actions in my family, my circle of friends and in this generation.
Quote: Compassion is one of the things people need more than anything else in this world.
