THE NARROW PATH TO RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD - DAY 50

by Rev. Robert John Cericola, Carroll, OH - EUA 

Day 50

Moved with Compassion

Mark 8:2–10, Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.”

Jesus seeing the need of the multitude that had been following Him for three days was moved with compassion to feed four thousand people with seven loafs of bread and a few small fish.

How often have you looked and saw the need of someone living on the street? Were you moved with compassion into action as Jesus was? Most people avoid people living on the street by quickly looking away, or just ignoring what they see. Others will say to themselves, “he or she brought this on himself so it’s their problem,” or use the excuse of lacking finances to deaden any spark of compassion.  All these maneuvers to avoid the needs of people reveal an underlying lack of love. Love and compassion both move people into action and are like twin sisters.

As we are transformed inwardly into Christs’ image of love, love is formed in us which causes us to react differently to the needs of people. We see their need of God and knowing he can satisfy all their needs we run to the Throne of Grace on their behalf.

When we approach the Throne of Grace in prayer, to make our request for a fellow human being, we are being moved with the same compassion and love Jesus has. Because of love our faith is activated, it is energized and we receive the answer by faith and the person we prayed for receives the blessing. God responds with compassion to those that make their requests with a heart filled with love.

Ending Thoughts

Love moves God to action.

Having compassion for the lost comes through the dying to self and being formed into the image of Christ. Stay on the Narrow Path and you will soon see the needs of people differently and you will be moved to prayer.