THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” Mark 6:34 (NIV)
The world today is growing more and more secular every day. God is no longer allowed in schools or government buildings, and there’s a growing movement to take him out of his own Birthday, Christmas! It’s no wonder that the number of people in today’s world who either haven’t heard the Good News, or have rejected the Gospel, is growing.
It’s easy to lose patience with people who despise the Lord and everything he stands for. It’s easy to rebel against a government and society who rejects God. It’s easy to get angry when another ridicules me for my beliefs.
I’m sometimes guilty of all those feelings. But then I think about the pain I was in before Christ came into my life. That one thought is enough to change my thinking from one of judgment to one of compassion.
I can’t imagine spending my life without the hope, love and joy that Jesus has brought to my life. Jesus stepped off that boat and was surrounded by a crowd of people, so lost, so alone, so in pain. He reached out to them with love, knowing the need guidance, not judgment.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking me, a lonely, hurting sinner, and guiding me to a life of joy in you. Help me to extend that same compassion to all I meet today.
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