Pure Compassion

How do you respond to unfavorable situations? Do you react in anger (fight-mode) or fear (flight mode) without thinking through? Are you easily provoked?

In Matthew 14, evil king Herod brutally murders Jesus' cousin, John the baptist. "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick" (v. 13-14). Jesus could've easily sent them away, or he could have left them, take an AWOL and go somewhere else to mourn. Or he could easily provoke them to start a rebellion. But he responded in pure COMPASSION.

If you think about it, putting aside your personal feelings to first meet the needs of others is quite a sacrifice. But Jesus didn't only put the feelings aside, but whatever he was feeling then, it turned into compassion the moment he saw those who were in need. Now that's SUPERNATURAL. Only the love of the Father that is in Him can do that. Only an intimate experience of God's unconditional love can provide that kind of security and ability to see the needs of others and then respond with compassion. When God's love is in us, nothing is impossible. When God's love brims from our hearts, it can overflow in ways that can touch the lives of others.

That makes me worship Jesus all the more, and aspire to be like Him. #TAWG