CHRISTIANS NEED TO BE COMPASSIONATE
Do you remember the woman in Mark 5 who secretly touched the hem of Jesus’ garment in
a desperate attempt to be healed? What an unhappy woman she must have been! Her disease had
drained her physically and financially. Most of all, it had left her nearly hopeless. But it doesn’t
seem that many people that day were concerned about her condition or even aware of it. At the
moment, something more exciting was happening: the crowd was following Jesus to an emer-
gency--to see Him heal a sick girl who lay at the point of death.
This woman was not like the blind beggar, crying out for attention. Nor was she like the ten
lepers, whose loathsome illness was easily seen by all. She was not in an obvious crisis, like the
naked wounded man who laid in his own blood on the way to Jericho.
But this woman represents a multitude. In a sense, she represents all those who live “quiet
lives of desperation”--those whose fear, guilt and loneliness are concealed from just a curious
glance. Perhaps life has been unkind to them, or they are victims of their own mistakes. In either
case their sorrows and frustrations are not easily seen. But their burdens are as real as the rags
and sores of poverty which the world usually defines as human need. The woman with an issue
of blood represents those whose secret suffering is many times overshadowed by the more ob-
vious disasters in life.
Jesus was aware of her unspoken, invisible plight. Those who would serve in His name need
to be aware of the unspoken, invisible plights of those with whom we come in contact--some-
times on a daily basis. In order to do this, we must subordinate our personal desires and preoccu-
pations. Jesus did. His ministry held priority over any self-centered needs or desires.
Then, too, we must develop in ourselves the ability to be compassionate, loving, gentle and
patient. Atheists can respond to the moans of the starving and the open wounds of emergency
cases. As Christians we must do better. The world should be able to expect more from us who
claim to follow the Lord and Master. Are we providing more?
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Courage sometimes is being the only one who knows you are
afraid.
Love ya,
Jesse
a desperate attempt to be healed? What an unhappy woman she must have been! Her disease had
drained her physically and financially. Most of all, it had left her nearly hopeless. But it doesn’t
seem that many people that day were concerned about her condition or even aware of it. At the
moment, something more exciting was happening: the crowd was following Jesus to an emer-
gency--to see Him heal a sick girl who lay at the point of death.
This woman was not like the blind beggar, crying out for attention. Nor was she like the ten
lepers, whose loathsome illness was easily seen by all. She was not in an obvious crisis, like the
naked wounded man who laid in his own blood on the way to Jericho.
But this woman represents a multitude. In a sense, she represents all those who live “quiet
lives of desperation”--those whose fear, guilt and loneliness are concealed from just a curious
glance. Perhaps life has been unkind to them, or they are victims of their own mistakes. In either
case their sorrows and frustrations are not easily seen. But their burdens are as real as the rags
and sores of poverty which the world usually defines as human need. The woman with an issue
of blood represents those whose secret suffering is many times overshadowed by the more ob-
vious disasters in life.
Jesus was aware of her unspoken, invisible plight. Those who would serve in His name need
to be aware of the unspoken, invisible plights of those with whom we come in contact--some-
times on a daily basis. In order to do this, we must subordinate our personal desires and preoccu-
pations. Jesus did. His ministry held priority over any self-centered needs or desires.
Then, too, we must develop in ourselves the ability to be compassionate, loving, gentle and
patient. Atheists can respond to the moans of the starving and the open wounds of emergency
cases. As Christians we must do better. The world should be able to expect more from us who
claim to follow the Lord and Master. Are we providing more?
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Courage sometimes is being the only one who knows you are
afraid.
Love ya,
Jesse
Comments
Post a Comment