a 365 day trip through Matthew with a key thought, prayer, focus verse and contextual verses for each day
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Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."(NIV)
Matt. 9:35-38
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way." (NIV)
Matt. 15:32
Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.(NCV)
Phil. 2:4 |
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July 11
Compassion over Cares - Matthew 14:13-14
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.
Full Text
Key Thought
One of the most remarkable qualities of Jesus is his sense of compassion.He can see, feel, and identify with the desperation of people in need and then he is willing to act on that compassion in a way that personally involves him.Not only do I admire that trait, I desire to make it part of my life.Unfortunately I have to battle my selfishness on one hand and my indiscipline to say no on the other.
In this powerful situation, Jesus is grieving the loss of his cousin John the Baptist and is also fully aware that John's death signals that he, too, will face death.Yet rather than leaving the crowd behind, he ministers to them and to his disciples as well.While we know that Jesus took time away from the crowd to be alone with his father, and that Jesus will spend much of the rest of his ministry away from the crowd teaching his disciples, he will interface repeatedly with the crowd to offer compassion and share God's love.Sometimes under heavy stress, there is no greater comfort than to be used by God to minister to others -- not for our good, but for theirs!
Today's Prayer
Almighty and sacrificial Father, teach me to not be so self-focussed and self-absorbed.Thank you for Jesus' example active compassion as he not only feels the pain of others, but acts relieve it.Please use me to minister to those around me in pain in a way which brings glory to you and reflects the face of my Savior and your Son.In his name, Jesus my Lord, I pray.Amen.
Today's Verses with Jesus
(key verses in bold)
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13 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.14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." 16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."17 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.18 "Bring them here to me," he said.19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
(NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas:
Word Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
Used by permission.
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