When you got dressed this morning did you top off by putting on a mantle of compassion? As we gird ourselves with empathy and compassion be on the look out for those who especially need it, which, well, could be just about anyone. We may just encourage someone along the way, showing them the love of Christ.
Jesus is often said to have had compassion on the crowds and individuals among whom He walked and encountered. He characteristically went out of His way to engage with one here and one there.
Compassion spearheads action. Look at Matthew 14:14 ESV.
"When He went ashore He saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick".
That's what Jesus did and does. He seeks and saves the lost (see Luke 19:10).
In Mark 6:34, He again had compassion on a great crowd,
"because they were like sheep without a shepherd."
His compassion then led Him
"to teach them many things" (Mark 6:34 ESV).
That took a long time because the day waned and the disciples were thinking it's more than time for everyone to go home. The people would be getting hungry and there were no restaurants nearby in that "desolate place."
Jesus' hospitality was to turn five loaves of bread and two fish into a feast, feeding 5000 men (and likely along with their wives and children). There were even leftovers to talk about and take home.
When we combine compassionate hearts with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, forgving one another and finish off with the love of God,
"Which binds them all together in perfect harmony"(Colossians 3:12-19 ESV),
our actions for the day ought to indeed show Christ's love, just as Jesus' did.
Don't forget to don your mantle.
~ ERC February 2025 ~
Based on Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV) and Our Daily Bread Sept/Oct/Nov 2023 - 24 Sept - by Patricia Raybon.
Sing, The Love of God is Greater Far, along with the Gaithers Vocal Band.
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