Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Compassion


"A SAMARITAN CAME WHERE HE WAS. AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE HAD COMPASSION."
LUKE 10:33 (NKJ)

Are you too busy to care about the needs of others? It is easy to get so preoccupied with being good
instead of doing good that we miss opportunities to serve that are right in front of us. No one was busier
than Jesus, yet He always responded to those in need.

In Luke 10, Jesus tells of a Jewish traveller who was mugged by a gang and left to die on the road.
First a priest and then a levite passed by. They were religious leaders; surely they would have
compassion on this wounded man. But no, they both had important appointments to keep and
didn't stop. Then a Samaritan came along. Of all people, he had the most reason to look the other
way, because the Jews and the Samaritans were long-standing enemies. But the Bible says,
"...he came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion."

True compassion rearranges our priorities! The Good Samaritan decided that where he was going
wasn't as important as where he was at that particular moment.

What would you have done that day? Do you think you would have acted like this Samaritan?
How about when God tries to interrupt your inflexible, tightly organised, set-in-concrete schedule
and asks you to take time for someone who is hurting? Are you willing to shelve your personal
agenda and do what He wants?

When we are too busy to reach out to those who are hurting, we are just too busy!

Today, ask God to give you the compassion of Christ, and to help you to take opportunities
to serve others.


(c)2006 Timothy L. Hudson, UGA Christian Campus Fellowship

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