- There is something we call the C culture (compassion and contribution) – at my local church, modelled after the life of Jesus (our ultimate example).
- Without a heart of compassion, we cannot contribute to the life of others nor can we win the world (unbelievers) for Christ. Let’s see Jesus in action.
“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” ~ Mark 8:2-3
- Compassion is a feeling of deep sorrow or sympathy for a person who is stricken with misfortune; accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
- Multitudes gathered around Jesus just to listen to Him teach the word (Wow, what an anointing!)
- Jesus noticed the time they had spent with Him (3 days); the fact that they were out of food; that they had come from a long distance, and that they were weak & on the verge of collapse.
- Dear friend, I want you to know that God notices everything about you (Hebrews 4:13; 6:10; Luke 12:7). [The people didn’t know that Jesus had taken notice and was going to give them a miracle].
- God has taken notice of you. The sacrifices you are making to know Him, spending precious time in His presence, the distances you travel and the lengths you go for Him, the resources you’ve lost in the pursuit of Him, etc.
- Be rest assured that He sees it all and He’s also thinking about you. You occupy His mind and thoughts. He is concerned about you; He wants to do you good!
For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ~ Jeremiah 29:11
- Dear friend, as you draw close to God in this quiet-time journey – seeking to know Him and develop a personal relationship – He will feed you with His word and also take care of every other need that concerns you (Matthew 6:33).
- Be rest assured, your end is a glorious one. You are dearly loved and cared for!
- God is about to surprise you with His compassion. God will blow your mind with His mercy. It’s amazing what God’s grace is going to do in your life.
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9
I didn’t plan all this for today’s devotional, but I believe God wants to encourage and assure His beloved. You can never be a casualty in His hands. [Okay, so let’s get back to compassion as we try to round up].
- Remember Jesus had been the one teaching at this 3-day convention (I wish someone had recorded this sermon lol), so He must have spent energy Himself.
- But He directed His focus on others. Also, Jesus did not just stop at sympathy towards what He noticed. He had a strong desire to alleviate the problem and contribute to solving it.
- That is compassion and that is how God wants us to live. Jesus did a great financial miracle (feeding 4000 men – minus women & children – at KFC), and it started with compassion!
Perhaps if we were compassionate about others, we would have miraculous breakthroughs and have more than enough to bless others with. Compassion is a catalyst for the miraculous!
His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so.
To one he gave five talents [probably about $5,000], to another two, to another one—to each in proportion to his own personal ability. Then he departed and left the country. ~ Matthew 25:15.
- For you and I to be compassionate towards others, and trigger the miraculous, we will have to first acknowledge that we have something.
- You have something dear friend; it may not be much (or it may be), but it is definitely something.
- Never desire to be the one who has nothing to give or offer (Matthew 25:29).
“For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but FROM THE ONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], EVEN WHAT HE DOES HAVE WILL BE TAKE AWAY." ~ Matthew 25:29
- Could be money, could be a skill, could be a spiritual gift, could be a good network – whatever it is – if you are willing to partner with Jesus in meeting the needs of others, it will be multiplied!
- And it starts with thanking God for what is available and presenting it to Him for the greater good.
Anytime we offer the little we have, we’re getting ready for a level of grace that we never knew of. Let us develop a heart of compassion and contribution, and see God multiply our lives in Jesus’ name.
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