Living Generously
The crowds came hungry for Jesus to fill them with life—life that would heal their ailing bodies and broken hearts. Life that would restore their faith and remind them that God is with them. They heard of His miracles, His healings, and how His words give life. They wanted what He had to offer. Jesus saw the crowds and answered with compassion.
As the sun went down, evening made way for suppertime. The people had walked miles to be with Jesus. There was no restaurant or outdoor market nearby. Forget asking a neighbor, 5,000 people had to be feed. Walking home on an empty stomach . . . it troubled the Lord to think that someone might faint along the way.
Jesus’ disciples recognized the problem. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
“That isn’t necessary,” Jesus replied. “You feed them.”
What! Does He see all these people? At least 5,000 people are here, not counting the children. They couldn’t believe what he said.
They finally answered, “But we only have five loaves of bread and two fish . . . Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?” Luke 9:13 (NLT).
Jesus smiled as he told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups. Jesus then took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept handing the bread and fish to the disciples to distribute it to the multitude.
The people ate as much as they wanted. Every stomach satisfied; every need met. From young to old, they all knew: God cares for them.
Jesus filled the hungry stomachs with what he had. Although it was little, it was more than enough.
Bringing Compassion to Our Communities
Just like Jesus acted with empathy, the world needs our compassionate hand and prayers. Cambridge Dictionary defines compassion as “a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them:”
The world can feel big, really big. Let’s make it a little smaller and closer to home. A friend needs a kind word to know she’s not alone. Our sibling needs to know God loves them and be reminded of His good plans. A peer on social media shares a difficult situation and needs our prayers.
Compassion can make someone’s day better, give them hope for tomorrow, and bring joy to a weary heart. It’s easy to think, “Lord, I have nothing to give.”
But what if you really do. Since Jesus lives in our hearts, compassion is inside us. We only need to put into action what is already in our hearts. God invites us to do so. “Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering.” Colossians 3:12 (ASV).
Heaven is inviting us to wear compassion. Here are four ways to do so.
Share an Encouraging Post on Social Media
Have you ever read a friend’s post that left you feeling sad? That is a perfect time to put compassion into action. Let them know, “God will help you through this,” or “I’m praying for you.” A word of encouragement can lift their heart.
Send a Card to Someone Who Is Sick
Do you know someone who was recently diagnosed with a life-threatening disease? It can be a hard journey for anyone. Your words of encouragement can help them get through a tough day. It’s a wonderful way to show kindness.
Give Away Slightly Used Clothes
Do you have items you haven’t worn in over a year? Yes, we all do! What a great opportunity to bless a friend who can’t afford new clothes. Do you know of someone? Give generously. If not, donate your gently used clothes to the Salvation Army or a church that helps those in need. Your dress can be the perfect treasure for someone.
Share Your Food
Many families today can’t afford groceries because of a job loss or a cut in income. Donating to a local food pantry is a great way to share your loaves and fishes. A few canned and dried goods will make a meal for a family that didn’t know where their next meal would come from! Your act of kindness can show them that God sees their needs.
Never think you don’t have something to give. When you take inventory of what you do have, you’ll discover you have plenty.
Cited Source: Cambridge Dictionary: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/compassion
