As I was shopping on Christmas Eve with my family in NYC, my sister and I noticed that some many people around us were unhappy. That spirit of depression and sadness really comes out this time of year. Many people are alone, down casted, broke, unemployed and angry. The world is a very cold and a difficult place to live in. Many people are consumed with material things and self love.In Matthew 9: 36 it says that Jesus moved with compassion because he saw in the villages that the people were weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd. The definition of compassion is to recognize the suffering of others, then take action to help. In the next verse it says Jesus turns to his disciples and says, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”Matthew 9:37-38
Christ with His never ending compassion saw that there was a need for the people in these towns and took action. He healed their sick, cast out demons, made the blind see and gave a word from the Father to encourage them. But Christ did not want to be the only one doing this, He wants us to also move with compassion as He does. He has commissioned us to reach out to people and take action!
I pray leading up to the New Year that when ever we see people upset or depress that we gave them a smile, say "God bless you", "Jesus loves you" or "I love you." Whatever it is move with compassion and God will give you the words to say.
