Jesus is full of compassion when it comes to our suffering. Why doesn't He always heal? God has His reasons. Sometimes our suffering brings a greater good. It draws us to Christ. "Pain is God's megaphone," said C.S. Lewis. Sometimes it keeps us from worse trouble.
If Christ is in our hearts, we should be full of compassion for the hurting. We cannot touch and heal. But we can pray. We can comfort. We can visit.
Jesus' compassion for the hungry and needy
Matthew 15:32-38
32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way." 33 His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?" 34 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish." 35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children. Jesus is full of compassion for the hungry and needy.
With Christ in our heart, we too should be full of compassion for the hungry and needy. When we help them, we are helping Christ.
Proverbs 19:17
17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.
Matthew 25:34-40
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Compassion for the Lost
Matthew 9:36-38
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Sheep without a shepherd.
Lost souls without a savior.
Jesus knew what awaits lost souls - eternal separation and torment.
In His compassion, He had to go to the cross - to save millions, even billions, from hell.
If Christ is in our heart, we should be full of compassion for the lost.
We must be witnessing. Sadly it is true that "the workers are few."
We must be praying, "Lord of the harvest, send out workers."
