MEMORISE: And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. – Matthew 14:14
BIBLE READING: Matthew 14:14-21
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart*; give ye them to eat.
17 And they say unto him, We have here but* five loaves, and two fishes.
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
MESSAGE:
Showing compassion means putting yourself in someone else’s situation to feel what he or she feels so that you can respond to the situation appropriately. In today’s Bible reading, Jesus was moved by compassion, so He provided food for over 5,000 people who came to listen to Him.
As God’s child, you may not be able to feed five thousand people at once, but you can start with your neighbour who is in need. You will feel compassion for the less privileged if you are truly God’s child. During our special programmes, such as the Annual Convention, we have various avenues to meet the needs of people beyond just preaching God’s word to them. We give many people free food, free medical services, et cetera.
My dear child, some of your classmates may not have accepted Christ and may be poor. If you have been preaching to them and they are not responding, try to meet one of their pressing needs and see what God would do through it. Your kind gesture may make them accept the gospel of Christ.
ACTION POINT:
As much as you can, try to meet someone’s pressing need today.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 10:1-11:25, Hebrews 6:1-20