Today’s Scripture
Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion
on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching
them many things.
Mark 6:34 (NLT)
Big Idea
Be like Jesus by filling your heart with compassion for other people — and responding in love.
Today’s Thought
Don’t you just love those Bible verses that compare people to sheep? Doesn’t it make you feel like you should move out from your parents’ house and set up a bedroom in a barn?
OK. Maybe not.
Set aside the sheep imagery for a moment, and look at a couple of profound things this verse tells us about Jesus.
First, during His time here on earth, Jesus felt human emotions — especially love. Jesus was God in human form. He was 100 percent God and 100 percent human. When His friend Lazarus died, Jesus wept. (He also raised Lazarus from the dead — the next time you attend a funeral, imagine how people respond if that happened!)
Having compassion is different from feeling pity on someone. Compassion is rooted in love and grace and mercy. Pity is rooted in pride and arrogance and judgment.
At least one translation of this verse says Jesus “felt sorry” for them, but that really doesn’t capture the right tone of His emotion. The Message version of the Bible says “his heart broke,” and that’s a clearer idea. Jesus had compassion on people in need.
But don’t miss the second message in this verse. Yes, Jesus felt compassion. But He also acted! He did something in response. Your love for others will be displayed through your actions.
God wants you to experience compassionate love toward people who haven’t chosen to follow Jesus yet — but God also wants you to act when you see opportunities to meet real needs in people’s lives. That’s the way Jesus loved people, and it’s the way we as r12 Christians can love people, too!
Mark 6:34 (NLT)
Big Idea
Be like Jesus by filling your heart with compassion for other people — and responding in love.
Today’s Thought
Don’t you just love those Bible verses that compare people to sheep? Doesn’t it make you feel like you should move out from your parents’ house and set up a bedroom in a barn?
OK. Maybe not.
Set aside the sheep imagery for a moment, and look at a couple of profound things this verse tells us about Jesus.
First, during His time here on earth, Jesus felt human emotions — especially love. Jesus was God in human form. He was 100 percent God and 100 percent human. When His friend Lazarus died, Jesus wept. (He also raised Lazarus from the dead — the next time you attend a funeral, imagine how people respond if that happened!)
Having compassion is different from feeling pity on someone. Compassion is rooted in love and grace and mercy. Pity is rooted in pride and arrogance and judgment.
At least one translation of this verse says Jesus “felt sorry” for them, but that really doesn’t capture the right tone of His emotion. The Message version of the Bible says “his heart broke,” and that’s a clearer idea. Jesus had compassion on people in need.
But don’t miss the second message in this verse. Yes, Jesus felt compassion. But He also acted! He did something in response. Your love for others will be displayed through your actions.
God wants you to experience compassionate love toward people who haven’t chosen to follow Jesus yet — but God also wants you to act when you see opportunities to meet real needs in people’s lives. That’s the way Jesus loved people, and it’s the way we as r12 Christians can love people, too!
Prayer
God, give me Your compassion toward the people in my world. Give me
your eyes so I can see them the way You see them. Fill me with love and
compassion and mercy, and help me share your good news with people who
need salvation and a relationship with You. Amen. God, give me Your compassion toward the people in my world. Give me
Woah, I reallyyyy love this!
ReplyDeleteCompassion is something that helps you become a respected person. :)-Jasmin
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good message!-Elizabeth Calhoun
ReplyDeleteokay i'm definitely buying a barn now - Ryan
ReplyDeleteWe definitely need to have compassion for nonbelievers- gabby
ReplyDelete