TGN: Compassion

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Daily Prayer: The Word is life to my soul. I cannot go a day without it LORD. Continue to allow Your amazing Word to transform me, my life and the people I encounter day to day. Because there is mighty power in the Word of God. Thank You Jesus. In Your Name. Amen
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www.biblegateway.com
Mark 6:30-44 (NLT)
Jesus Demonstrates True Compassion
30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat.
32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. 33 But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. 34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. 36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat."
37 But Jesus said, "You feed them."
"With what?" they asked. "We'd have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!"
38 "How much bread do you have?" he asked. "Go and find out."
They came back and reported, "We have five loaves of bread and two fish."
39 Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.
41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. 42 They all ate as much as they wanted, 43 and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. 44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed from those loaves!
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So we know how important it is to rest and to have balance. It crucial to understand that if you're sacrificing self to the point of ineffectiveness, you're accomplishing nothing. I pray that you are geared towards incorporating both rest and balance into your life. I can't stress enough the importance of this practice. If you don't get it- please know you can always reach out to me and we can discuss. And don't forget that awesome form of communication called- PRAYER. Take it to prayer and know for sure you'll receive what you need in the right time.
So Jesus and the disciples needed their rest, however, they did not always find it easy to get the rest they needed! The people were hungry for the Word; they were hungry for Jesus. This particular crowd was as pitiful as a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Sheep are easily scattered; without a shepherd they are in grave danger. Jesus is the Shepherd. We are lost and in grave danger without Him. He was the one who could teach them what they needed to know and keep them from straying from God (see Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:5; John 10:11-16). Though He wanted to rest, His compassion for His flock moved him to teach them many things. Jesus' compassion didn't stop with feeding the people's souls; but also their bodies. Jesus fed way more than 5,000 (5,000 tallied the men only; and most of the men were with their families, which included women and children).
Sometimes it isn't rest that keeps us from serving others. Sometimes it's plain selfishness. #1 thing to remember is that, we need one another. Without a doubt, there will be someone in your day today who needs you. I encourage you to take Jesus' example, and have compassion on that person and serve him/her according to the Word, with what they need. Please be moved to step up to this challenge today, this allows for the miracles we're always looking for. And I'm convinced as you move in faith, mighty good things will be unleashed. You are the example of Jesus in other people's lives. If you turn from them- what sort of message are you sending about not just you- but most importantly about the God that you serve.
Compassion and trust in God can and will take us a long way in this life.
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Prayer: Thank You for Your Word today LORD. You are bringing about messages that are really touching the lives of Your people; and stirring them to do more and more in the Name of Your Son. Continue to move, direct and guide us LORD in the ways of compassion. We thank You so much for all that we know and most importantly for all that we don't know-that You are doing not only for us individually, but for Your church. Let Your Kingdom reign, LORD. Praise You, Father. In Jesus' Name. Amen
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Resources: biblegateway.com, NIV Women's Devotional Bible- Classic Edition, Life Application Study Bible.
Spread The Good News: www.thegoodnews4yourlife.blogspot.com
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Peace comes when our minds stay on Him.