Dear Friend,

Mark 1:41 tells us a leper’s condition and plea “moved” Jesus, or prompted Him to act with compassion—strong pity that prompts one to take whatever action is necessary to relieve another’s sufferings.

No passing statement, the synoptic gospels repeatedly present compassion as the prime motive for every phase of Jesus’ ministry. His were mercy messages, mercy healings, mercy miracles, intended not to show off His anointing but to throw off the terrible burdens caused by spiritual ignorance, erroneous doctrine, physical illness or injury, demonic possession, and other pressing human needs.

Specifically, the evangelists tell us "compassion" urged Jesus to:

* TEACH - "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things" (Mark 6:34).

* HEAL - "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick" (Matthew 14:14).

* EXPEL DEMONS - "Jesus . . . saith unto him [the delivered demoniac], Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee" (Mark 5:19).

* RAISE THE DEAD - "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother" (Luke 7:13-15).

* FEED THE MULTITUDES - "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way" (Matthew 15:32).

* WEEP WHEN GOD'S PEOPLE REJECTED HIM - "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes" (Luke 19:41-42).

* CALL URGENTLY FOR INTERCESSORS - "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest" (Matthew 9:36-38).

Are we like Jesus in this regard? Do we share His compassion? What is the prime motive for our Christian service or ministry activities?

Is our secret intention to show off our gifts, prove we are called, or validate our ministry to disprove our critics? Or worse, are we driven by crass commercialism, the hunger to acquire money and worldly wealth? Isn't it time we make our motive for service compassion - the pure desire to unburden overburdened people struggling with the terrible pains and issues of life because this is what Jesus wants?

Because . . . He loves them . . . He died for them . . . He wants to draw them to Himself . . . He wants to train them to walk closely with Him in this world . . . He wants to transform them into His character image . . . so they may live with Him forever . . . And He's coming again for them - soon!

If so, we become extensions or embodiments of Jesus' compassion. "That's impossible! It's too lofty, too super-spiritual, too mystical!" you say?

Well, think again. If we are born of God's Spirit, His very divine nature, including His amazing, inexhaustible compassion is in us by the Holy Spirit: "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5). Let us, then, like our Lord, make compassion our central purpose in Christian ministry, not commercialism, religious ambition, popularity, acclaim, self-vindication, or any other selfish motive. And why? This pleases Him.

Let's pray: "Lord Jesus, come, change me, work in me, cleanse me of wrong motives in service, until your humble compassion alone leads me to minister in your name. Then let your marvelous ministry and miracles of mercy flow through me . . . till You come!"

Praying,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries