From Care to Compassion
There's a difference between us and Jesus. We tend to care about people and Jesus shows us how to care for people.
Big Difference.
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:13-16 ESV)
What had Jesus just heard? He heard that his cousin, forerunner, friend and partner was just brutally murdered by a wicked and immoral king. No doubt his own crucifixion was now looming over his head and he understandably wanted to be alone.
But the crowds would not have it. They needed him. They wanted to see him. They traveled all the way around the lake to find Him. And he heals their sick.
Jesus shows us the way to get over loss is to start helping others as soon as you can.
The disciples show us how we often care about people. "Send them away, there's nothing for them here and they are hungry... Don't make them miss a meal." Yes, Lord, we care about them!
Jesus says "it's time to care FOR them."
It's one thing to have a concern about someone or some cause. It is another thing to care FOR them or it.
God has no doubt instilled every follower of Christ with a cause they care about. But we aren't made for sympathy alone, we are meant for action.
And how does it start? "Bring them to me." Jesus says. Give me what you've got.
Then, in His hands, it is taken, blessed, broken and given back to you... ready now for blessing others.
What is Jesus asking from you?
What is He blessing before you?
What is He breaking in you?
Take it back, broken and ready to be a blessing.
PRAYER:
God you have blessed me and my family abundantly. Help us all to see it for what it is - a tool in your hand. Help us to take are cares and turn them into actions of compassion. To bring about a blessing beyond ourselves.
Big Difference.
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:13-16 ESV)
What had Jesus just heard? He heard that his cousin, forerunner, friend and partner was just brutally murdered by a wicked and immoral king. No doubt his own crucifixion was now looming over his head and he understandably wanted to be alone.
But the crowds would not have it. They needed him. They wanted to see him. They traveled all the way around the lake to find Him. And he heals their sick.
Jesus shows us the way to get over loss is to start helping others as soon as you can.
The disciples show us how we often care about people. "Send them away, there's nothing for them here and they are hungry... Don't make them miss a meal." Yes, Lord, we care about them!
Jesus says "it's time to care FOR them."
It's one thing to have a concern about someone or some cause. It is another thing to care FOR them or it.
God has no doubt instilled every follower of Christ with a cause they care about. But we aren't made for sympathy alone, we are meant for action.
And how does it start? "Bring them to me." Jesus says. Give me what you've got.
Then, in His hands, it is taken, blessed, broken and given back to you... ready now for blessing others.
What is Jesus asking from you?
What is He blessing before you?
What is He breaking in you?
Take it back, broken and ready to be a blessing.
PRAYER:
God you have blessed me and my family abundantly. Help us all to see it for what it is - a tool in your hand. Help us to take are cares and turn them into actions of compassion. To bring about a blessing beyond ourselves.
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