Moved with Compassion
Friday, September 18, 2009
by Dr. Paul Chappell
"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. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
Matthew 9:36-38
Having godly compassion means seeing the needs of people before seeing the differences in people.
Alexander Maclaren, Baptist minister in Scotland in the late 1800s, once said, "Kindness makes a person attractive. If you would win the world, melt it, do not hammer it." Maclaren makes the point that kindness and compassion has more of an influence on others than harsh treatment.
One of the greatest examples we have of compassion is seen in Christ. His compassion took Him from Heaven's perfect habitation to earth's sinful state. It drew Him to a people whom He loved but who hated Him, and it led Him to a death on an old rugged Cross. Compassion was the driving factor behind Jesus' earthly ministry, and the story in our verses today illustrates this truth.
"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." Christ saw the people before Him, not as followers or promoters of his popularity, but as lost souls, needing His help.
Imagine being in Christ's spot. Multitudes of people stood before Him, and, whether they knew it or not, they needed His healing, physically and spiritually. They had been lost in a tradition of religious knowledge and worship that He had come to end. Everyone in Israel needed His salvation.
Jesus was moved with compassion by seeing the needs of the people. Jesus' compassion wasn't simply a heartfelt emotion; He acted upon His compassion. He commanded the disciples, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
How do you view the people around you? Do you see them as friends, neighbors, perhaps people with problems? Or do you, like the Lord, see them as people needing help? Having godly compassion means seeing the needs of people before seeing the differences in people.
Some people are called to be missionaries and spread God's Word, but we all are instructed to pray for the lost souls of others. No one person can reach the entire world, but as God's people pray for His work to be done and are faithful in the work God has called them to do, God's message will be spread.
It's sometimes overwhelming to think of the millions of people you cannot reach with God's Word. Sometimes you might even want to drop everything and travel the world, telling others of Christ! While that is a worthy aspiration, He has called you to be faithful where you are and continue reaching out to those around you.
How far is your spiritual reach? Do you reach out to people around you through witnessing, to missionaries through praying, and to other countries through giving? God desires that you would have compassion on the lost of this world, and that compassion would move you enough to seek God's help in reaching them. Take time today to pray for God's work to be prosperous in other countries, and continue reaching out in your own mission field where you live. You can make a difference as you are faithful where you are right now.
Friday, September 18, 2009
by Dr. Paul Chappell
"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. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
Matthew 9:36-38
Having godly compassion means seeing the needs of people before seeing the differences in people.
Alexander Maclaren, Baptist minister in Scotland in the late 1800s, once said, "Kindness makes a person attractive. If you would win the world, melt it, do not hammer it." Maclaren makes the point that kindness and compassion has more of an influence on others than harsh treatment.
One of the greatest examples we have of compassion is seen in Christ. His compassion took Him from Heaven's perfect habitation to earth's sinful state. It drew Him to a people whom He loved but who hated Him, and it led Him to a death on an old rugged Cross. Compassion was the driving factor behind Jesus' earthly ministry, and the story in our verses today illustrates this truth.
"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." Christ saw the people before Him, not as followers or promoters of his popularity, but as lost souls, needing His help.
Imagine being in Christ's spot. Multitudes of people stood before Him, and, whether they knew it or not, they needed His healing, physically and spiritually. They had been lost in a tradition of religious knowledge and worship that He had come to end. Everyone in Israel needed His salvation.
Jesus was moved with compassion by seeing the needs of the people. Jesus' compassion wasn't simply a heartfelt emotion; He acted upon His compassion. He commanded the disciples, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
How do you view the people around you? Do you see them as friends, neighbors, perhaps people with problems? Or do you, like the Lord, see them as people needing help? Having godly compassion means seeing the needs of people before seeing the differences in people.
Some people are called to be missionaries and spread God's Word, but we all are instructed to pray for the lost souls of others. No one person can reach the entire world, but as God's people pray for His work to be done and are faithful in the work God has called them to do, God's message will be spread.
It's sometimes overwhelming to think of the millions of people you cannot reach with God's Word. Sometimes you might even want to drop everything and travel the world, telling others of Christ! While that is a worthy aspiration, He has called you to be faithful where you are and continue reaching out to those around you.
How far is your spiritual reach? Do you reach out to people around you through witnessing, to missionaries through praying, and to other countries through giving? God desires that you would have compassion on the lost of this world, and that compassion would move you enough to seek God's help in reaching them. Take time today to pray for God's work to be prosperous in other countries, and continue reaching out in your own mission field where you live. You can make a difference as you are faithful where you are right now.
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