How Are You Going to Love?
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because theywere harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples,”The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:36-38
Jesus had compassion for the distressed, the dejected, the lost. A few years ago, I was so hemmed in by my need to serve on God’s personal “God Squad,” handing out sin citations, that my love for the lost was overridden by my prideful need to defend God’s truth. I was still moved by the innocent who were maligned and hurt, but immune to the sinners birthed from a corrupt culture. It was then God showed me if I were to love the lost, I would need more empathy for the “guilty” than for the innocent. I would need compassion. And slowly, He gave me a heart of compassion, a compassion that compels me to love in action. A voluntary act of my will, a yielding to the Holy Spirit. Compassion that compels forces your heart to pay attention with intention. It kneels down to your child to listen with your eyes. It reaches across the table at that next family gathering. It knocks on your neighbor’s door. It extends itself at a ragged shirt sleeve and outstretched hand.
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”Hebrews 13:2
Close your eyes and think about someone whom you love with your whole heart. Someone easy to love. Then create a mental montage of those who may not have loved you in return. Now stop, and think about the family member you are called to love, but just can’t? If they died today would you know where they would spend eternity? If you doubt it is in heaven, do you feel that is their just reward? Or do you feel compelled by the same compassion to serve the helpless, to leave the ninety-nine sheep, and seek the one that is lost?
In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus identified the needs and saw that the workers were few. Do you think he was only speaking to His disciples after a series of mega-picnics that fed thousands? Or is His word living and active today and it includes us. The answer is yes, we are His disciples. In verse 38, Jesus tells us to ask (pray) the Lord to send, some translations say force, the workers into his harvest field. What if, just what if, you were praying and God commanded you to harvest the field? Could you do it steeped in the confines of judgement and condemnation with arms crossed? Or suffused in His grace and mercy like those loving arms, outstretched on the cross?
John 21:15-17
15…“Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Jesus posed the question to Peter three times, “Do you truly love me?” By the third time, Peter was hurt. How could Jesus ask him three times? Peter said, “You know that I love you.”
If Jesus knows all things, why was he asking? He certainly wasn’t asking Peter because He didn’t know. He was relentless in His questioning not for Peter to affirm his love, but for Peter to decide how he was going to love. Jesus asked Peter and today He asks us to display His love through compassion. A compassion that should compel us to feed the innocent lambs and take care of the lost sheep. The question remains,
How are you going to love?
Meet me in the Devotionals or for a private chat in our Forums. Love to hear your comments.
Agape, Kristianne