Compassion — Jesus’ Key to Impactful Ministry!
Think of a time when you were struggling, lost, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do, and someone noticed. Maybe they listened without rushing you. Maybe they helped you practically. Maybe they simply stayed close and present when you were alone. They sat with you in the confusion and accepted what you were going through.
That kind of compassion leaves a mark on us. It reminds us that we are not invisible. And as people who have received the compassion of God, we are called to extend that same compassion to others.
How Can We Be Compassionate Like Jesus?
In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus went through the towns and villages teaching, proclaiming the kingdom, and healing the sick. But when He saw the crowds, Scripture says He was “moved with compassion” because they were helpless like sheep without a shepherd.
The Greek word used here, splagchnistheis, carries the idea of being deeply moved from within. It is not a shallow pity. It is a deep yearning, a heart that feels the pain of others and is moved toward them. Jesus did not merely observe the suffering around Him, but also noticed, felt, and acted. This is the kind of compassion we need during OCR to mimic Jesus’ outreach. Friendliness, activity, conversation, fun, helping out, but most importantly: Doing it out of care, the heart of our Lord.
So, what are some practical ways to practice compassion?
- Notice people who are not as interactive and reach out to them
- Remember how God stayed patient with you
- Meet practical needs (e.g., help them carry things, find places, problems with language barrier, etc.)
- Continue to check up on people.
How Can We Train Our Hearts to be Compassionate?
At the same time, compassion is not just external work, but also requires a compassionate heart. As Christians, we are called to be holy, separate from the world, not just in our actions, but also in our inner thoughts and desires. This week is all about recalibrating our hearts to be a fountain ready to give to whoever passes by us.
One of the best things we can do to prepare our hearts to be compassionate as we outreach is to pray! As we reach out to others, let’s pray to feel the same splagchnistheis that Jesus felt when moving through the crowds. On days we feel tired and just want to go home after a busy day, let’s pray for God to replace our worldly aches with His aches for His people. Before we step out the door, let’s pray for splagchnistheis to rise up in us and be the root of all our actions, sustaining us throughout the day.
Compassion is Key!
Compassion was key to Jesus’ ministry and must be the key to ours! Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s will so that, once He provides the opportunity to meet those in need, we can serve them with compassion.