Matthew 15:32-33 “Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’ His disciples answered, ‘Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?’” (NIV)
We live in a “me-centered” world that sees life through our needs and wants. We live to accommodate ourselves instead of others. The disciples also had this problem. They were constantly more interested in all the things associated with the ministry of Jesus rather than the needy people around Jesus. Jesus often stopped the disciples and changed their direction because of His compassion for “people.” Jesus’ ministry cannot be boiled down to a program, a formula, or a punch list because it was the living embodiment of the Father’s love for His children. Romans 5:8 says, “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” God wants you to have this same heart for His people - eyes to see the needy and a compassion for those who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. You gain the heart of Jesus by knowing Him. The more time you spend in prayer and reading the Bible, the more you will know and take on the heart of Jesus so that your life emits love and compassion for others. The poor, the lost, and the hurting should never be a distraction, but an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to express His love and compassion through you - showing that Jesus is alive in you!
Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (NIV)