When God burdened my heart with the vision for Revive Outreach Church, He placed a single word into my spirit; compassion.  Compassion is something we often talk about, but do we truly understand what it means?  Matthew chapter nine gives us a glimpse of the true meaning of compassion as demonstrated by Jesus.

Matthew 9:35, 36 – Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

When Jesus saw the people, He saw them as lost, scatted, and without any hope of salvation.  As a result, He had compassion for them.  The Greek word translated compassion in these verses is not simply a feeling of pity, but it was a call to action.  Jesus wanted to help them and help them He did.  He gave His life freely for them and provided the hope they so desperately needed through His sacrifice.

Christ’s sacrifice is the answer to a weary and lost world.  A world full of people who find themselves groping in the dark for answers they cannot find on their own.  Jesus is the good shepherd, the author of salvation, and the light of the world.  We have a responsibility to reflect His light to a world trapped in darkness.   We cannot accomplish such a daunting task without compassion.

To truly experience compassion, we must see people the way that God sees people; weary, scattered, and without hope.  In that moment we will be moved to act on their behalf; feed the hungry, clothe the naked, minister to the sick, uplift the depressed, and reach the lost.

Are you willing to take the risk and genuinely ask God to help you see people the way that He sees people?  I promise you, that when He opens your eyes and your heart, there is no going back.  Sitting still will no longer be a viable option.