In what ways can we show compassion to outcasts today, as Jesus did? Jesus Meets the Lepers: Luke 17:12 “As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance” (Luke 17:12). Lepers lived outside community life, cut off from worship, work, and family. Jesus noticed them first, then healed them. Our model is set. Seeing the Outcast: Who Are They Today? • Individuals experiencing homelessness • Immigrants and refugees • Prisoners and those recently released • People battling addictions or mental illness • The elderly or disabled left alone • Victims of trafficking or abuse • Those shunned for diseases (HIV, chronic illness) If society keeps them “at a distance,” we move toward them. Practical Ways to Imitate Jesus’ Compassion • Notice—look people in the eye, learn their names. • Approach—cross the street, sit beside, initiate conversation. • Listen—allow stories to be told without rushing to fix. • Touch—offer a handshake, a hug, a fist-bump where appropriate. • Provide tangible help—meals, clothing, transportation, job tools. • Include—invitations to church, small groups, family meals, celebrations. • Advocate—speak up when policies or attitudes harm the vulnerable. • Share the gospel—because ultimate healing is found in Christ. Scriptural Foundations for Compassion • Matthew 25:35-36: “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat…” • James 2:15-17: faith without meeting needs “is dead”. • Galatians 6:2: “Carry one another’s burdens…”. • Proverbs 19:17: “Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD…”. • Hebrews 13:3: “Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them”. • Luke 14:13-14: invite “the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind”. • 1 John 3:17: withholding compassion contradicts God’s love. Guarding Our Hearts: Overcoming Barriers • Fear—ask God for courage; perfect love casts it out. • Prejudice—renew the mind in Scripture; every person bears God’s image. • Distraction—schedule margin; compassion rarely fits a tight calendar. • Weariness—serve together; shared ministry lightens load. • Self-righteousness—remember we were spiritual lepers Christ cleansed. Long-Term Engagement: Love That Persists • Mentor a child of an incarcerated parent. • Offer job-training workshops at church. • Open your home for holiday meals. • Partner with rescue missions for ongoing discipleship. • Support crisis-pregnancy centers, foster-care families, refugee resettlement teams. Consistency reflects Jesus’ continual care. Witness Impact: Compassion as Living Gospel People read our lives before they open a Bible. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Compassion validates the message we preach. Summary Steps for This Week • Pray daily for one group listed above. • Carry food vouchers or care packs to share. • Spend five minutes listening to someone society ignores. • Volunteer a shift at a shelter or crisis line. • Invite an outsider to Sunday lunch. • Give generously to a ministry that serves the marginalized. Small, faithful acts echo the moment Jesus stopped for ten forgotten lepers—and still stops for us. |
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