Today's Devotional

October 22, 2004

Subject:  How Much Compassion Is That?

John 11:33 - "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled."

Okay, I now realize I've got a pretty active life.  Last week, as I was leaving work and walking to my car,  I noticed a lady moving at a frantic pace towards the entrance gate to the Marine compound.  There she was questioning the guard about something, so I continued on.  As I drove down the hill, I noticed what appeared to be a rabbit in the middle of the road, but I was soon to find out that it was a Chihuahua running down the middle of the road.  I made sure not to hit it and then a bell went off in my head.  Perhaps the lady I had seen before was looking for this dog.  I immediately turned around and went back up the hill where the lady was questioning the guard and asked if she was missing a dog.  She loudly explained that she was and I told them to get into the car.   We then went down the hill to try to find the dog.  She eventually found the dog and has been fighting to contact me ever since to tell me thank you.  I guess the previous 400 times that she told me thank you didn't count. 

Then, last night as I was driving out near midnight to fill my car up with gas, I noticed two ladies sitting in the middle of the street with hazard lights on.  I stopped and asked if everything was OK and the driver responded with a verbal yes, but she still had that strange, "not really" look.  I offered to help and she accepted.  She then let me know that a friend was on the way.  Later, I realized that they were simply two helpless young women out in the middle of the night with a stranded automobile.  Well two hours later we're sitting there still waiting on a tow truck.  During that time we had great conversation about life and they finally asked why I would stop to help them.  How do you say, "door open???"  

The bottom line on both of these episodes is one that I think can only faintly parallel the attitude that Jesus had when He walked the earth.  That is the attitude of compassion that He had for us.  I believe that in all of the great things that He accomplished, the miracles, the relationships that He established and through the people He worked with, it never really was about the circumstances, whether He was healing someone or even raising them from the dead.  I believe that it was all about His heart and great love for people.  

I didn't care "that much" about the dog that I saw running down the road, but I did see and care that this lady was distraught and I wanted to help.  I didn't even know the girls stranded out in the middle of the night, but they were in definite need of help and I was there to offer it.  

Today, Jesus doesn't care that I have a car that I like or a house that I like or a job that I like, but He does care about me and if losing the job breaks my heart, He wants to be there to comfort me.  If losing the car is gonna cause me fits, He wants to show me that He's better than roadside assistance.  Whatever you're into, God wants to love you more than that thing that you're into so that when that thing eventually gives out or goes away, He's right there loving you as always.  How much compassion is that?

 Carlen