Day 1
Text: Matthew 15:32, Ephesians. 4:32
Life Lessons:
1. Identifying the needs of the people and deciding to do something about it is the nature of our God. The bible is full of different accounts of the compassion shown by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the book of Matthew 20:32-34 states that; “Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked. Lord, they answered, “let our eyes be opened.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.…”
2 Showing compassion is a form of Evangelism. Through missions of compassion, souls have been won to the Kingdom of God. In the scriptures we just read above, (Matthew. 20:34), after Jesus had compassion on the blind men, by restoring their sights, the bible recorded that they followed him. It would be difficult for a hungry person to listen to the gospel because, his immediate need is paramount to him. James 2:15 -17 says ‘Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (NIV).
3. Human abilities can be a limitation to doing the work of God. The disciples of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ considered the size of the crowd and in their own ability concluded that there was no way they could be of help to the number of people present. (Matthew.15:33 “His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”). But Jesus, working by faith, knew that God is the giver of provisions, especially, when the action pleases God. 2Corithians.5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight:
LIFE APPLICATIONS
1. As Christians we must develop bowels of mercies, by studying the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and living like He lived. We must not be indifferent to the needs of others in whatever form they are presented. The disciples must have known the people had been with Jesus all day long, but they were not as concerned about their physical needs as their Master Jesus was. (They properly felt they will be ok and take care of themselves after they all leave gathering). Colossians 3:12. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”
2. As Christian we must go beyond mere sympathy (feeling sorry for people in need) but offer help and solution as best as we can. This would enable us to exemplify compassion to the world, so that people will know our God better and be drawn to Him.
1 Peter 3:8: “Be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” In John.11:33-35, Jesus showed compassion at the grave of Lazarus when He wept with his friends. Compassion will make us pray for the church instead of condemning it and offering support for people instead of mere feeling sorry for them.
3. We must not wait for people to approach us for help, but we must always be on the lookout for immediate opportunity to show compassion. The habit of looking out for others helps us as believers to readily identify those who we can show compassion towards. Jesus, a compassionate man by nature, identified the immediate need of the people which was hunger and tiredness, and He not only offer them food, but also relieved them of the stress of taking a tiresome journey to the next town to get food. Mark.6:34. “And Jesus, when he came out, saw many 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”.
LESSON OF THE DAY:
We can liken Compassion to faith backed with works. The world around us needs to see a display of compassion by Christians. We cannot only talk the talk, but we must walk the walk. Do good, walk by faith and not by sight. In the classic words of William Booth, “You cannot warm the hearts of people with God’s love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet.” 1Jn.3:17, Matthew 8:14-17, Psalm.78:38, Romas.12:10
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