🕊️ PRAY HERE Devotion 🕊️ “Compassion: How Many of Us Truly Have It?”
Scripture: Luke 7:12–15 (KJV)
Verse 12: “Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.”
Verse 13: “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.”
Verse 14: “And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.”
Verse 15: “And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”
Devotion
When you see someone in pain or hear about a tragedy on the news, DOES YOUR HEART FEEL ANYTHING? Do you feel sorrow for the people affected? Do you stop and pray for them? Or do you simply keep scrolling because it doesn’t concern you? Whewwwww! 😮💨 I’ve known some people who only seem to feel something when tragedy hits home. As long as it isn’t happening to them or somebody they love, they don’t seem to be moved by it. But there are others who are naturally sensitive to the suffering of people, even complete strangers! MY, MY, MY! And sometimes we have to ask God to give us a heart of compassion. Like we discussed in our last devotion, some people have never experienced kindness or compassion themselves. HOW DO YOU SHOW SOMETHING YOU’VE NEVER BEEN SHOWN? That doesn’t mean you can’t learn! And that’s why we have the greatest example of all, JESUS CHRIST! 🙌🏽♥️
Now, let me tell y’all something funny! 😂 One of my dearest sisters, who has since gone on to be with the Lord, embarrassed me SO BAD at church one day! She was standing before the congregation telling of the goodness of God, what we sincerely called giving a testimony. Somehow, she got on the subject of compassion. And out of nowhere, she said, “My sister Maranda has such compassion for people. When we pass homeless people or see those who are suffering, she will cry and pray for them without even knowing them. I thought it was funny at first, but it began to inspire me to care about strangers too.” Y’ALL!!! 🫣😂 I turned RED! Because now everybody was looking at ME! I wasn’t expecting to become part of her testimony! 😂 But for me, it was just natural to have a heart for people. I didn’t have to know their names, where they came from, or what happened to them. IF I SAW SOMEBODY HURTING, MY HEART HURT FOR THEM! And what she shared that day reminded me of something important. SOMETIMES THE COMPASSION WE SHOW CAN INSPIRE SOMEBODY ELSE TO CARE TOO! Whewwwww! 🙌🏽
Now, let’s talk about our greatest example, JESUS CHRIST! I strive daily to become more like Him! 🙏🏽♥️ Let’s read today’s Scripture together. In Luke 7:12–15, Jesus was approaching the town of Nain when He encountered a funeral procession. A mother was burying her only son, and the Bible tells us that she was also a widow. MY, MY, MY! This woman had already experienced the pain of losing her husband, and now she was preparing to bury her only child! Can you imagine the heartbreak?! And in those days, losing her husband and only son could also leave her without the family support and provision she depended on. BUT LOOK AT WHAT JESUS DID! Verse 13 says, “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her.”
OOOOOOEW WEEEEE! 🙌🏽🔥 JESUS SAW HER PAIN, AND HIS HEART WAS MOVED! The Scripture doesn’t tell us that she asked Him for anything. It doesn’t tell us that she knew who He was or expected a miracle. JESUS SAW A WOMAN SUFFERING, AND HE HAD COMPASSION ON HER!
And here’s what makes this account so beautiful! Jesus didn’t just notice her pain and keep walking. He spoke to her, approached the funeral procession, and commanded the young man to arise! AND THE DEAD MAN SAT UP AND BEGAN TO SPEAK! HALLELUJAH!!! 🙌🏽🔥 Then the Bible says Jesus delivered him to his mother! HE GAVE THAT MOTHER HER SON BACK! MY, MY, MY! What a beautiful display of the love, mercy, and compassion of our Savior! Jesus didn’t have to experience that woman’s exact situation to care about what she was going through. HE HAD COMPASSION BECAUSE SHE WAS HURTING! And that’s what I want us to understand today. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE GOING THROUGH WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING THROUGH TO HAVE COMPASSION FOR THEM! Whewwwww! 😮💨🙌🏽
Let me make this very simple. Maybe you’re financially comfortable, but somebody around you is struggling to buy groceries. HAVE COMPASSION! Maybe your children are healthy, but another parent is sitting in a hospital room praying for their sick child. HAVE COMPASSION! Maybe your marriage is doing well, but somebody you know is going through a painful divorce. HAVE COMPASSION! Maybe you’ve never experienced homelessness, but you see somebody standing outside in the cold with nowhere to go. HAVE COMPASSION! You don’t have to experience their pain personally to care about what they’re going through! And you don’t have to be able to solve their entire problem to show them love. Sometimes compassion looks like stopping to pray. Sometimes it’s offering a meal, giving encouragement, listening without judgment, or simply asking, “ARE YOU OKAY? IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP?” OOOOOOEW WEEEEE! 🙌🏽♥️ COMPASSION IS WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE’S PAIN MATTERS TO YOU, EVEN WHEN IT DOESN’T AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY!
And here’s something else! COMPASSION IS NOT THE SAME AS PITY! Pity can look at somebody’s suffering and feel sorry for them. But compassion moves our hearts to CARE about them and, when possible, DO something to help! We may not be able to perform the miracles Jesus performed, but we can certainly demonstrate the love He showed! And please don’t underestimate the power of sincere prayer! SOMEBODY YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW MAY BE DESPERATELY IN NEED OF SOMEBODY TO PRAY FOR THEM! My, my, my! And before we start judging people who struggle to show compassion, remember that some have never been shown much compassion themselves. Maybe they grew up in a home where nobody comforted them when they cried. Maybe they were told to toughen up every time they were hurting. BUT WHAT YOU DIDN’T RECEIVE GROWING UP DOESN’T HAVE TO BE WHAT YOU WITHHOLD FROM OTHERS! Ask God to soften your heart and teach you how to love people the way Jesus does!
So today, I want us to examine our hearts. HAVE WE BECOME SO CONCERNED ABOUT OUR OWN LIVES THAT WE NO LONGER FEEL ANYTHING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE? Whewwwww! We don’t have to know everybody’s story to care about their suffering. We don’t have to agree with every decision they’ve made to treat them with kindness. And we certainly don’t have to wait until tragedy reaches our own front door before we begin praying for those who are hurting! JESUS SAW A GRIEVING MOTHER, AND HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION! May we become people who don’t just see suffering but have hearts that are moved to love, pray, and help. LORD, GIVE US A HEART LIKE YOURS! HALLELUJAH TO OUR LORD! 🙌🏽🙏🏽♥️
✍🏽 Reflect & Respond
When I see someone suffering, even a complete stranger, does my heart move me to pray or offer compassion?
Have I become so focused on my own life that I’ve stopped paying attention to the needs of others?
Am I showing people the same kindness, mercy, and compassion that Jesus has shown me?
TODAY’S QUESTION:
DO I HAVE TO EXPERIENCE SOMEBODY ELSE’S PAIN BEFORE I CAN HAVE COMPASSION FOR THEM?
Today, be intentional about showing compassion. Pray for somebody who is hurting. Check on someone who’s been going through a difficult time. And if God places an opportunity before you to help somebody, don’t ignore it!
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THEIR ENTIRE SITUATION, BUT YOU CAN HELP THEM KNOW THAT SOMEBODY CARES! 🙌🏽♥️
🙏🏽 Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love, mercy, and compassion toward me. Lord, please give me a heart like Yours. Help me never become so consumed with my own life that I overlook the pain and suffering of others. Father, soften my heart wherever it has become hardened or insensitive. Teach me to care about people even when I cannot relate to what they’re going through. Help me not to judge those who are hurting, but to show them kindness, understanding, and love. Lord, when I see somebody in need, remind me to pray and help however I can. And for those who have never experienced true compassion, please heal their hearts and teach them how to extend it to others. Make me more like Jesus every day. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen. 🙏🏽♥️
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