Moved with Compassion

Christ’s earthly ministry wasn’t simply work; He loved every person He came across.

I once read this story written by an evangelist: “I was once conducting a session with high school teenagers. I told them that they could ask me any question on any subject, and I would try and answer it. Their questions were typical of ones I had received in similar sessions scores of times before. As the session drew to a close, one girl toward the back, who had not said anything, raised her hand. I nodded, and she said, ‘The Bible says God loves everybody. Then it says that God sends people to Hell. How can a loving God do that?’

“I gave her my answer, and she came back to me with arguments. I answered her arguments, and she answered my answers. The conversation quickly degenerated into an argument. I did not convince her, nor did she convince me. After a few more questions I dismissed the session. After the session I approached her and said, ‘I owe you an apology. I really should not have allowed our discussion to become so argumentative.’ Then I asked, ‘May I share something with you?’ She said, ‘Yes.’ So I took her through a basic presentation of the Gospel. When I got to Romans 3:23 and suggested that all of us were sinners she began to cry. It was then that this high school senior admitted she had been living in sin and was going through a difficult time. The one thing she needed was forgiveness. When I finished the presentation of the Gospel, she trusted Christ.”

This girl’s harsh words were coming from a broken and hurting heart. She knew she needed Christ. In her heart she knew she had sinned. Her conscience condemned her, but rather than face the fact of her guilt, she simply denied any future judgment.

There are many hurting people in the world today. And often times they show their hurt through critical, harsh words. But as Christians, we are to have compassion on these people. Notice the example Christ gives us in Mark 6:34, “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.” Jesus was moved with compassion for these people.

When was the last time you were moved with compassion toward someone? In reading the Gospels, it is apparent that Christ’s ministry wasn’t simply work; He loved and had compassion on the people He taught. Everything He did was out of a love for them.

There are so many hurting people around you today. Whether because of financial pressures, marital difficulties, loss of a loved one, or other trials; many people carry hurt. God wants you to be a help and encouragement to them. He wants you to love, care for, and witness to them.

Before you proceed with your day, take a few minutes right now to ask God to give you His love for others. Ask Him to help you see others as He sees them—lost souls He gave His Son to save. Today, look to help the hurting and to point them to Christ.

Source: DITW, February 8, 2009