Compassion

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, “The Harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:35-38

I saw a news story recently that inspired me. Can I add, anytime you get inspiration from watching the nightly news that’s something to always take note of. 😉

Officers in Detroit, Michigan shared a photo of something that happened on Interstate 696. They received a distress call that there was a gentleman who had crawled over a fence and was standing on the ledge of the interstate overpass ready to take his life. As officers talked with him, a distress call went out to all the truckers who were on I-696. Upon receiving the distress call, truck drivers willingly volunteered to pull under the overpass creating a raised net showing this stranger that they were not going to let him fall.

Incredible.

When I read Matthew 9:35-38, I am struck by this word: compassion. As Jesus saw those in distress, the word “compassion” wasn’t defined as a heart tug. It was actually a feeling that was felt in the bowels. It was a twisting of the stomach that what you saw so impacted you, it led to movement and changing the situation. So what did Jesus do? He not only felt compassion, but He said to His disciples that they were called to do the same.

This is missions. This is our calling.

I love serving alongside you all in this amazing church. Over the past three weeks we’ve looked at what it means to follow Jesus. We’ve looked at discipleship and missions. This Sunday, let’s close up REACH with a commitment Sunday coming from 2 Kings 13:14-20.

Let’s talk about striking every arrow for God’s glory.