Are You Moved With Compassion?

Heavenly Father, most gracious God, Lord I come before your throne of grace, first to tell you thank you.  Father, I thank you for all that you have done, and are still doing in my life.  I thank you for your mercy and grace.  Father, I thank you for being a God that allow us to come to you as we are, and not who we pretend to be.  I thank you for your loving kindness that you show to an undeserving people.  Father, I thank you for the spirit, and measure of faith that was given to each and every one of us so we can know who you are.  I thank you for loving us so much that you gave us another opportunity to be reconciled to you, and dwell in your bosom for eternity.  Lord, I pray this morning that all of these blessings, just continue.  Lord, you are a God who is able to keep us from falling, and I pray in the name of Jesus, that you cover us with divine protection, and that you deliver us from all evil.  Now Father, I pray a blessing on all of your children who read this message today.  I pray Father that they will be moved with compassion, and motivated to reach a lost people.  I pray Father that you give them the courage if they are lacking, and the words to speak, if they know none.  I pray a blessing on their families, and I pray that you bless them in their coming and going.  I pray Father, that you be with them, as you are with me.  And Father if we can send one more request, I pray that you forgive us of any sins committed.  We give you the honor and the praise.  This we pray in the matchless name of your Son Jesus, Amen.

I want to share something with you.  I want to share with you what I saw when I went witnessing one time.  We went to an area that is considered the ghetto.  They were numerous buildings and all look the same.   They were run down, close to each other, and the area had the stench of urine.  We took a detailed tour of the area.  What this mean is we surveyed the area properly in case if we were not welcome, and if people wish to do us harm, that we would be able to make it out quickly in one piece and not run around in circles.  As we were walking, the sight was almost unbearable.  There were young men, women, and children with dead eyes.  Dead, because it showed a tired people.  Dead because it is the same for them day by day, month by month, year by year.  Dead because they feel there is no hope in sight.    We came across some men playing dominoes and drinking.  Although their laughter can be seen as men just having fun, when you stare into their eyes, and they stare back at you, their expression tells you the real story.  This is their way of forgetting their circumstances.  This is their way of forgetting that they have to return to a roach infested apartment when night falls.  This is their way of forgetting that the clothes they have on, they may have to wear it two more times before the weekend.    Then you saw young ladies.  They have children back to back, and another in the stomach.  You can see the shame on their face.  It speaks volumes to their circumstance.  The more babies they have, the more food they can receive.  “Hey it beats prostitution.  Rather have babies, then have bruises by a pimp who could care less if I live or die.”  That is what their eyes say.  Then we reach the outskirts of the community and see church, after church, after church.  We look at each other, then look at the community, then look at each other, then at the churches, then shake our heads in disbelief.  So many churches, yet the community do not reflect what the church should bestow on the community.  Hope!!!!  We were moved with compassion.

Then I visited the prisons.  There were many men of different ages, shades, and cliques.  They all have one thing in common.  They are confined to the prison walls for years at a time.  While life continues outside, it is slow in there.  The only glimpse of reality comes in a form of a visit from a loved one.  Those who are unable to receive visits may read a letter here and there.  They allow their imagination to take them outside the walls.  Or if some are unable to get letters, phone calls, or visits, they have a glimpse of reality when they watch the TV.  Some share their fears.  They are afraid they may never make it out alive.  Some fear they will be violated sexually.  Some fear that they would not be able to cope returning to society.  When it is all said and done, there is more fear than hope.  Then I visited the adolescence ward.  Young teenagers who should be in school are in there.  You can see the hostility in their eyes.  The chip on their shoulders.  These have no fear.  To them this is normal.  My goodness.  They should be playing video games, or hanging out at a mall, or planning prom.  They are in there.  Then for a second I reflected on my own teenager, and then a tear ran down my eye as I am exciting the facility.  I was moved with compassion.

You do not have to be a Christian to have compassion, but as a Christian, you must have compassion.  The Bible says “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.   Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."  (Mt 9:35-38)  Who will give these people hope?  Who will share a word with them letting them know it does not have to be this way?  Which one of you will tell them how God has been good to you, and He can be good to them as well?  These people feel God has abandoned them.  Who will tell them that God’s thoughts toward them are of peace and not of evil, and to give them a future and hope?  I have shared the word with family and friends over and over and over again.  The seed has been planted.  It is time to move on to a people who are begging for someone to bring them a word.  Family, get out of your comfort zone and stop keeping this word to yourself.  Surely you have compassion for the people that I have just mentioned.  Right?  Amen!