THE COMPASSIONATE SAVIOR

It's been a while since I've written a blog post, but I wanted to share about what I've been learning lately. It's been about two and a half months since we left California, lots of transition and four homes later, I'm learning about Jesus, the compassionate savior. As I've been reading through the bible this year verse after verse we see His compassion and His heart for the needy and broken. Matthew 9:36 - “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” ; Matthew 14:14 - “When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” ; Matthew 20:34 - “Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.” As you can see He felt compassion over and over again and it moved Him to do something. Compassion moved Him to heal the sick, dine with and call the sinners, and most importantly die the most gruesome death in history for the sins of you and I. We live in a culture that praises the wealthy and well put together people but Jesus sat and dined with sinners, he cleansed the leapers who everyone dared not touch, and He washed the dirty feet of his disciples. He was never afraid or judging of the messy, hurting, worn out people. Mark 2:17 says, "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." He came FOR THE SINNERS. He was moved with compassion FOR THE SINNERS. When I read the scriptures and see Him move with compassion for the broken, needy, least of these I can't help but notice the gap in my own life, the gap in our culture, and the gap in the church. God has been deepening my desire to be a woman who is moved with compassion. I don't want to get so caught up in the busyness of life that I miss the very thing Jesus set out to do. I don't want to miss the person on the side of the road, or the one next to me in a coffee shop, or in the seat next to me at church - the one God wants to touch with His compassionate love. A couple of weeks ago I sat at a coffee shop and was telling God that I want to be a fool for Him if it means others experience His love the way I have. A few minutes later I felt compelled to pray for the woman across from me. Jesus was moved with compassion for her sick son and unsaved children and after feeling God's intense desire for her to know that He is with her in it, I couldn't say no. I couldn't cave to fear of man or failure, I couldn't be what stops the compassionate savior from making His love known to her. "Sarah, I want her. I want her. I want her," He said. Who am I to not let Him be known? Who am I to stop the God of compassion from moving? Nothing but a mere vessel who is to be used to display the compassion of God. I will probably never forget the intensity of His desire for her and really the desire He has for you and I. These are moments I want more of for the both of us. Moments of feeling that life changing love He has for those we are surrounded by day in and day out. Moments of experiencing the life changing love He has for you and I. A few years ago I had a similar encounter where a Japanese woman sat in front of me with her husband asking for prayer for her cancer. I immediately saw Jesus sitting at her feet weeping with compassion, weeping for the pain she was experiencing. Overwhelmed I began to weep at her feet and pray for the God of healing to come touch her, for the God of compassion to do what He does best. As time has passed, I have become a weeper. I weep for the unsaved souls of Japan (99% DO NOT KNOW my compassionate savior... 99%!!), I weep for more of God, I weep... and I pray that God continues to deepen my heart for compassion. I pray that as you read this that the God of compassion shows up and meets you in every messy, broken, hurting corner of your heart and life. I see Jesus weeping with you. He hasn't passed you by. I pray that the warmth and love of Jesus fills in all the gaps and wraps you up close. I pray that Jesus becomes so very real and that your life would be changed as you just sit and weep with Him. I pray that God deepens your heart for compassion and compels you to follow Him no matter the costs. Isaiah 42:3 says, "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice." He has come for you and those around you who feel bruised or barley lit. Nothing is too far broken or a smoldering wick. With gentleness He will bring forth healing and life. Praying for you today. May you and I know this compassionate savior Jesus in all His fullness and glory.