In Justin’s message last weekend, we studied Luke 7:11-17 where Jesus performed a miracle by raising a widow’s son from the dead. Verse 13 describes what Jesus felt when he looked upon her:
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Luke 7:13
The compassion that he felt for this widow is the same compassion that he has for us, which ultimately led him to the cross. I am constantly amazed when I think of the love that Christ has for us. This week, I’ve also been reflecting on other verses in the Bible where the Lord’s compassion is mentioned. There are many of them, but here are a couple that stand out to me after reading this story in Luke:
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36
“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23
What I really appreciate about the verse in Matthew is the description of the crowd. They were “harassed and helpless”. How often do we feel harassed and helpless? For myself, I more often feel helpless. Whether it is unanswered questions at the doctor, a water leak in the house that leads to mold, or best-laid plans at work that go awry, it really does not take much to remind me that I am not in control. What I can trust is the fact that I have a good shepherd. A shepherd who has dealt with pain and troubles. A shepherd who loves me like a son.
The second verse is a reminder that God is faithful and keeps his promises. He loved us and sent his Son to be our path back to him (John 3:16). No matter what is going on in our life, this is a truth that we can lean on. We will not be consumed by our trials, but we will be with him in the end.
I pray that we will find comfort in these verses and remember the love that our Redeemer has for us.
The elders are praying for you every week. Please contact an elder or deacon with any prayer requests.
FROM THE ELDERS—Matt Baker