Page 4 - Compassion - August 2018 - Truth & Tidings
P. 4

of us will ever experience. They are charged   touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be
          by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit   thou clean” (Mark 1:41, KJV). Later, an-
          to suffer with all believers, even with you.   other man cried out for a sick son, “but if
          When they call, open up, make room, and   Thou canst do any thing, have compassion
          let them love you.                  on us, and help us (Mark 9:22, KJV). The
                                              Lord Jesus was both willing and able to do
          Our Compassionate Witness           these things, pouring Himself into fulfill-
             One day, God’s servant paused outside   ing the physical and emotional needs of
          Jerusalem. He scanned the scene from a   others, even to those who would never ad-
          distance, watching the people hurry about   mit their spiritual need, to show them the
          in every direction, but always away from   great heart of God.
          Him. He cried for their souls, healed their   We don’t all need to be seasoned evan-
          sick relatives, and taught them in love, re-  gelists to bring the gospel to our desperate
          gardless of their hatred. Another afternoon,   world; God will happily use our compas-
          He fed 4,000 people, knowing that some   sion to reach the lost. Many souls have been
          would only remember the free lunch. The   saved because someone was willing to in-
          Lord Jesus is our example of service to the   vest a little in their lives each day. It’s a dirty,
          world, suffering with them, and expecting   tiring business. But, if you’re willing to suf-
          nothing in return. “For even the Son of   fer with those in need, just listening, car-
          Man came not to be ministered unto, but   ing, giving, and suffering with them, you
          to minister, and to give His life a ransom   may find that their calloused heart cracks
          for many” (Mark 10:45, KJV). Let’s do the   and opens to the gospel. Let God do the
          same thing to this verse that we applied   rest.
          above, but trade the word “minister” for   Are you willing to take up the challenge
          “serve” as well. For even the Son of Man   of compassion? It’s likely you know some-
          came not to be served, but to serve, and to   one in need right now. The accolades of the
          give His soul a ransom for many (Mark   compassionate are few, but the rewards are
          10:45).                             everlasting. They aren’t based on results,
             It is remarkable how much the theme   but on relationships. Those who choose to
          of compassionate, suffering service comes   pour out themselves and suffer with others
          up in the Gospel of Mark. Write the word   share a piece of God’s heart and reflect the
          “compassion” on a bookmark and try read-  life of Jesus. Believers in anguish won’t ever
          ing the whole book with it in mind. In the   forget it when you whisper, “I’m here for
          first chapter, a man asks Jesus if He would   you.” Lost souls sick of sin may just see the
          be willing to heal him. “And Jesus, moved   Savior they need in your small act of kind-
          with compassion, put forth His hand, and   ness. God certainly will, too.








           Additional copies: A. J. Higgins - ahigginsmd@msn.com OR Paul Glenney - PGlenney@
           TruthandTidings.com. Web site: www.TruthandTidings.com.
   1   2   3   4