September 3rd, 2024
This week, I’ve been thinking about the compassion of God, and the power of compassion to change a situation. Compassion alone will do nothing but break your heart or motivate you to toil in your own strength. However, compassion coupled with faith and power will move mountains.
There’s a story in the book of Luke about a time that Jesus had compassion. He was entering a town called Nain, followed by a multitude of people. Luke 7:12-15 says,
“As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.”
Jesus was moved with compassion, but not for the obvious reason. How many funerals do you think Jesus had the occasion to see? I would imagine He witnessed many, and we only have record of His raising three people from the dead. Why, then, did he interrupt this particular funeral? He wasn’t concerned for the man who’d died. In this case, what moved Him was the mother. Luke makes it a point to note that she was a widow and that this man was her only son. In this time, a woman had no way to provide for herself. She would have had to have the protection and provision of a man. This woman had first lost her husband and now her only son. She would be destitute, alone, and dependent on the mercy of a society wrought with poverty to survive. Jesus was moved with compassion for her. Luke includes for us the three tender words Jesus spoke to her: “Do not weep.” After He resurrected the dead man, the Bible says He “gave him to his mother.” He raised the son for her, out of compassion for a woman in need.
The Gospel could be summed up in those three simple words of Jesus: “Do not weep.”
Do not weep, He was crucified for your salvation.
Do not weep, He laid down His life for your provision.
Do not weep, every stripe on His back was for your healing.
Do not weep, the kingdom of heaven has come.
Revelation 5:5 says,
“Do not weep; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
We are overcomers by the power of Jesus’ blood. That means we cannot be overcome by anything that could not overcome Jesus, and He destroyed even death itself.
Hebrews 2:14-15 says,
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
Jesus did not live, suffer and die, and rise from the dead, so we could just have a measure of comfort in affliction. He died to destroy the power of the enemy to afflict us. 1 John 3:8 reminds us that the “reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
Compassion alone will break our hearts, but compassion coupled with the power of God will change the situation. If we seek the power of God without the heart of God, we will lose sight of the purpose of the gospel and wander into dangerous waters. The purpose of God’s power is to demonstrate His love. The power of the Holy Spirit always demonstrates God’s love. Even when the fire of God convicts us, it’s to purify and discipline us, that we would be more like Jesus.
Hebrews 12:6 says,
“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
We can’t forget that God’s discipline and correction is also a demonstration of His love and compassion. God’s heart is always good.
This week, we want to encourage you to seek His heart, understanding that it is always to end pain and affliction. God isn’t glorified in our suffering, but in our deliverance. He works all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). This means that we can face things with faith and understand that there is power to overcome. The hall of faith in Hebrews 11 is not filled with men and women who never faced a problem. It’s filled with men and women who had faith in the face of those situations and saw a demonstration of the power of God on their behalf. The power of God always demonstrates His love. He wants good things for you! Whatever you’re facing, I encourage you to build yourself up in the word of God. He is more compassionate than we are, and He has power to change every situation, for your good and His glory! Be encouraged this week and weep no more. Jesus has overcome!
There’s a story in the book of Luke about a time that Jesus had compassion. He was entering a town called Nain, followed by a multitude of people. Luke 7:12-15 says,
“As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.”
Jesus was moved with compassion, but not for the obvious reason. How many funerals do you think Jesus had the occasion to see? I would imagine He witnessed many, and we only have record of His raising three people from the dead. Why, then, did he interrupt this particular funeral? He wasn’t concerned for the man who’d died. In this case, what moved Him was the mother. Luke makes it a point to note that she was a widow and that this man was her only son. In this time, a woman had no way to provide for herself. She would have had to have the protection and provision of a man. This woman had first lost her husband and now her only son. She would be destitute, alone, and dependent on the mercy of a society wrought with poverty to survive. Jesus was moved with compassion for her. Luke includes for us the three tender words Jesus spoke to her: “Do not weep.” After He resurrected the dead man, the Bible says He “gave him to his mother.” He raised the son for her, out of compassion for a woman in need.
The Gospel could be summed up in those three simple words of Jesus: “Do not weep.”
Do not weep, He was crucified for your salvation.
Do not weep, He laid down His life for your provision.
Do not weep, every stripe on His back was for your healing.
Do not weep, the kingdom of heaven has come.
Revelation 5:5 says,
“Do not weep; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
We are overcomers by the power of Jesus’ blood. That means we cannot be overcome by anything that could not overcome Jesus, and He destroyed even death itself.
Hebrews 2:14-15 says,
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
Jesus did not live, suffer and die, and rise from the dead, so we could just have a measure of comfort in affliction. He died to destroy the power of the enemy to afflict us. 1 John 3:8 reminds us that the “reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
Compassion alone will break our hearts, but compassion coupled with the power of God will change the situation. If we seek the power of God without the heart of God, we will lose sight of the purpose of the gospel and wander into dangerous waters. The purpose of God’s power is to demonstrate His love. The power of the Holy Spirit always demonstrates God’s love. Even when the fire of God convicts us, it’s to purify and discipline us, that we would be more like Jesus.
Hebrews 12:6 says,
“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
We can’t forget that God’s discipline and correction is also a demonstration of His love and compassion. God’s heart is always good.
This week, we want to encourage you to seek His heart, understanding that it is always to end pain and affliction. God isn’t glorified in our suffering, but in our deliverance. He works all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). This means that we can face things with faith and understand that there is power to overcome. The hall of faith in Hebrews 11 is not filled with men and women who never faced a problem. It’s filled with men and women who had faith in the face of those situations and saw a demonstration of the power of God on their behalf. The power of God always demonstrates His love. He wants good things for you! Whatever you’re facing, I encourage you to build yourself up in the word of God. He is more compassionate than we are, and He has power to change every situation, for your good and His glory! Be encouraged this week and weep no more. Jesus has overcome!
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