In what ways can we seek to be "moved with compassion" today? Seeing Through Jesus’ Eyes “ When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) What Does Being “Moved with Compassion” Look Like? • A visceral response; Jesus’ heart stirred before His hands or mouth moved (Mark 1:41). • Not pity from afar, but action that enters another’s pain (Luke 7:13). • A willingness to pay a cost—time, energy, resources, comfort (Matthew 14:14). How We Can Seek to Be Moved with Compassion Today 1. Invite God to soften our hearts • Pray Psalm 139:23–24 over everyday interactions. • Ask the Spirit to expose indifference (Ezekiel 36:26). 2. Slow down and really see people • Eye contact with store clerks, waitstaff, the homeless. • Pause scrolling long enough to notice suffering in your own home. 3. Listen before you speak or fix • “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19). • Listening dignifies image-bearers and often reveals deeper needs. 4. Step toward the pain you notice • Offer a meal, a ride, child-care, or shoulder-to-cry-on. • Volunteer where affliction is concentrated: hospitals, prisons, shelters. 5. Give sacrificially, not just conveniently • 1 John 3:17 calls the one who withholds help “loveless.” • Budget time and money for mercy, then ask God to direct it. 6. Practice hospitality • Open your table to “strangers” (Hebrews 13:2); loneliness is a modern leprosy. • Hospitality turns acquaintances into family, easing emotional poverty. 7. Intercede faithfully • Jesus had compassion and prayed (Matthew 9:37-38). • Keep a notebook of needs; revisit until God answers. 8. Speak Gospel hope • Compassion that never points to Christ treats symptoms, not sickness. • Share why you care: “Christ Jesus came to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15). Staying Tenderhearted • Colossians 3:12—“Clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion.” Dressing spiritually is daily. • Ephesians 4:32—Tenderheartedness is intertwined with forgiveness. Bitterness numbs empathy. • Proverbs 19:17—“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD.” Remember whose need you’re meeting. Walking It Out Jesus’ compassion was never abstract. He touched lepers, wept at graves, fed crowds, and laid down His life. As His followers, we answer the same call. See, feel, step, serve—then repeat, trusting Him to multiply every act of mercy for His glory. |
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