Compassion Moves us to Action

Read Mark 8:1-10

Jesus had been teaching, performing miraculous healings, confronting the Pharisees, and He had created quite a stir.  In this story, over 4 thousand people had come from long distances to gather around Jesus, all looking to Him for some last shred of hope or at the very least to find out what all the stir was about.  

Despite the massive crowd pressing in on Him looking to Him for answers, the needs of the people do not go unnoticed by Jesus.  He says, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.  If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

Jesus had previously feed over 5 thousand people just a few short chapters earlier.

  

Yet the disciples first reaction was something like, “We couldn’t possibly feed all these people! What do you expect us to do? We don’t have the resources to handle all this?”  They must have felt lost and helpless.  

Jesus was fully capable as Son of God call down manna from heaven to feed them all, just like in the Old Testament when the Children of Israel were wandering around in the desert 

But instead, He waits.

First Jesus brings the need to the attention of His disciples.

He asks them to take inventory of their resources and uses what they have to offer.

He invites the disciples to partner with Him in meeting the peoples’ needs in miraculous ways. 

He asks them to ACT in spite of their limitations and meet the peoples’ needs.

He shows them that His provisions are always more than enough. 

What needs has God placed on your heart? 

What do you have to offer?

Do you trust Him to provide from His heavenly storehouses, or do you give up because your resources or skills don’t seem like enough?

What actions can you take TODAY to meet someone’s needs despite of your limitations?

Trust that His compassions NEVER FAIL and His resources NEVER RUN DRY! 

Thank you, Lord, that you are the Everlasting God, the Master of the Universe and that You see our needs and are filled with compassion.  Reveal the needs of those around us and fill us with Your compassion.  Show us how we can partner with You with the limited resources we have to bring, and depend on You to shower Your overwhelming provisions for those whom You have called us to serve.