The power of compassion II
Peace to you, dear readers of «Daily Word for Spiritual Edification»!
Yesterday we talked about the importance and the power of compassion. We discussed the fact that we need to grow in mercy and compassion, because otherwise we won’t be able to serve people and please God.
Let’s look at one more passage of Scripture.
«Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, „Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” – that they might accuse him» (Mathew, 12 9-10).
Here we see a very ill man with a withered hand. Also we see some Pharisees who knew Jesus would heal this man. Nevertheless they asked Him a question in order to accuse Him. And it was because Pharisees lived according to the letter of the law, but this law of freedom had enslaved them and turned them into heartless religious workers.
This is what Jesus said to them:
«Then Jesus said to them, „What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath”» (Mathew, 12: 11-1).
Jesus answered that it is good and right to do good, heal and help people on the Sabbath if there is compassion in your heart. You can even go to the ends of the earth breaking common norms and human rules to save a life of one man.
If you have at least some compassion in your heart, you won’t think about people’s opinions and or about the lack of something; you will only think of how to save a man in danger of eternal damnation.
It was compassion that moved Jesus to heal the ill man.
«Then He said to the man, „Stretch out your hand”. And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other» (Mathew, 12:13).
After Jesus performed this miracle, Pharisees began conspiring and seeking to destroy Him. Jesus learnt about it and left the area; people followed Him and He healed them too.
We see God Who places compassion above all other things. And God tells us as a Church that we should put compassion above all other things. If we will be moved and motivated by compassion and the desire to save people, then we will have more results, more success and we will move forward no matter what we lack and how unprepared we seemingly are.
Of course, this does not mean that we should not prepare and grow in knowledge and skill. It is this same compassion that motivates us to grow so that we can be better ministers of the Gospel. But our shortcomings should not stop us! While we are thinking and contemplating of them, we are losing time, while people around us are perishing. We should get to work speedily.
Whatever is in your power, do it today.
Be blessed! We will continue tomorrow!
Pastor Rufus Ajiboye
