January 16
Miracles of compassion
Matthew 9:18-31, 35-36
KEY VERSE: When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36
Jesus cared about people. To describe the Christ of the gospels we would be compelled to
use the word "compassionate." Indeed it is the Savior's compassion for hurting people that attracts
us to him.
To be his disciples, we must go and do as he did. We must continue what he started:
teaching, preaching, healing. We must not be content to tell people what we believe; we must show
them that our beliefs constrain us to put love in action.
Unchurched people will have little interest in what we believe until they see evidence of our
genuine compassion for them. We can demonstrate our caring by reaching out to people at the point
of their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Does our community need a shelter for the homeless? Rather than give them a bus ticket to
another town, we can work together with other Christians to build a shelter for those who have no
place to sleep.
Does our community need a soup kitchen? Instead of giving people a few cans of soup, we
can generate a willingness among Christians to organize and operate a soup kitchen for those who
may not own a can opener.
Are there people, especially children, in our community who go to bed hungry at night for
a lack of food? We can support the nearby Food Bank and help open an outlet where needy people
can secure basic staple food supplies.
Our church works with the East Alabama Food Bank to provide free food to elderly people
in our community. Some 300 bags of food are made available every month to people who would
otherwise be hungry.
Are there people in our community who, having lost their jobs, are unable to pay their utility
bills? Are there people, who because of illness, are unable to work? We can show the love of Christ
by offering a helping hand.
Are there people in our community who need counseling to help them survive their physical,
emotional, and financial problems? We can find a way to make such counseling available in the
name of Christ, and not simply depend upon the state or the federal government to offer assistance
that has no reference to God.
Is helping the poor easy? Absolutely not. Will some people "rip you off," asking for help
behind a smoke screen of lies? Definitely. Should we then stop helping the poor because some of
them are liars?
Not if we intend to be servants of Jesus Christ! Somehow, if we love Christ, we will find a
way to show His compassion to the helpless and hurting people who are all around us.
How are you helping?
If you are not helping now, talk to your pastor and enlist his support in developing some kind
of ministry to the poor. Then look for Christ to appear in the midst of your ministry!