Corona Devo 219

Once in a while, we can feel in-the-groove with God.  By His leading, we serve or pray or somehow make a difference to someone, and there is no parallel to that high.  Being used by God is a blessing and a gift, but are we tapping into it all possible levels?

As I read a scripture about Jesus (like today's), I realize how very, very far away I am from being anything like Him.  Even on my best day, I have seeds of selfishness wanting to sprout and while I yearn to show compassion to others, so often my surrounding situation snatches my compassion and I replace it with impatience or duty.  

Jesus always put the duty of compassion over everything else on His docket, regardless of the surrounding situation or His mood.  Even in my best moments, I still have so far to go in doing this.  

We are so easily emotionally derailed, and yet, even in a moment of sorrow and pain, Jesus could not turn away from those who needed Him.  Lord, open my eyes and heart to see those that are desperate for Your healing, and to have compassion on them.

Consider that you just lost one of your best friends, and he was actually your cousin as well.  And your cousin didn't die of old age, after a full and happy life, he was violently beheaded while in prison on bogus accusations.  If we had just received this news, wouldn't we want to be alone?  So did Jesus.  He had just been told that John the Baptist had been killed in this way, and Jesus "tried" to be alone: to think, to process, to mourn.  But if you are the Messiah, there will always be followers, seekers, those that need a healing touch.  I might have turned away, but Jesus could not:

13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  ~Matthew 14:13-14

I can so very clearly see this scene unraveling.  The search for solitude, the ever-following crowds.  The emotions and sorrow would have been so raw for Jesus, and yet... he had compassion on them.

Could the Son of God have done anything less?

In this scripture, we see an example of how Jesus is defined as both "the Son of God" (I John 5:20) and "the Son of Man" (Luke 19:10)  He had the emotions/attachments/and felt-the-loss of a loved one just as you and I do, but at the same time He was living-out the immortal/Godly/spiritual duty of compassion and serving others as a result of His Divinity.

And I realize again how very, very far away I am from being anything like Him.   But I (also) know that none of us will ever be as completely compassionate as Jesus.  However, I believe God gives us these verses today to move us a few steps closer.

Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  ~Matthew 14:14

When was the last time we had compassion on someone?  We are quick to make our opinion and stance known these days, and even to act out physically without regard for others.  But someone is subjected to our opinion, stance and possible damage.  What if I had compassion instead of entitlement?  

Even within our own homes, there are seekers of attention, time, love and even healing.  Are we showing compassion?  Attention, time and love are healing forces, but am I stepping out of my boat to "have compassion on them"?

In our lives are broken friendships, struggling marriages, children dying for attention, and what are we doing about it?  Calling a counselor, wringing our hands, or calling it quits?  What if we called on Jesus to enable us to show His compassion to those in our lives that are sick?  Heart-sick, mind-sick, marriage-sick, parent-sick, sorrow-sick, anxiety-sick and home-sick.   If Jesus had compassion on them and healed their sick, why can't we?  

I know that we will not (likely) cause a wheelchair-bound family member to leap (as Jesus did), but compassion on such a situation and person changes our hearts and treatment of them.  Giving someone respect and independence can heal them in certain ways.  He had compassion on them... 

The loud and wild child that everyone else turns away from will bloom when compassion is poured over him.  Watch him quiet and settle and shine when someone takes the time to impart compassion and time into him.  He had compassion on them...

At work, in our homes, in our marriages, in our churches and in the current political climate: compassion changes things, and it will change us when we show it to others more often. 

Lord, open my eyes and heart to see those that are desperate for Your healing, and to have compassion on them. 

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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