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Topic: The Well Of Compassion
[DCLM Daily Manna 20 December 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Matthew 15:32-39
32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
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39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.
Key Verse: “Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way” – (Matthew 15:32).
MESSAGE:
Many pastors took turns to minister to a condemned criminal. They preached to him in an attempt to win him to Christ. But the condemned man was unmoved by their “powerful” preaching. At last, a layman visited the man. He entered the death row cell, sat on the camp bed with him, took him by the hand and said, “We are in a bad fix, aren’t we?” For that gesture, the condemned criminal broke into tears and shortly after, yielded to Christ. Compassion prevailed. The man was in need of somebody who would understand and care.
It is important to consider the attitude of Christ and His motivation for the miracle in our text. His statement in today’s key verse is instructive. The people had had no regular meal all through the three days they had been seeking Him in His solitude on the mountain. Christ’s attitude here speaks volume about our need to have compassion and empathy in our quest to win the unconverted to Christ.
We must learn to feel for people in their plight. Our compassion must be deep enough to compel helpful action. Love and kindness are cardinal ingredients in a Christian’s make-up. Compassionate action is a language people understand faster than religious jargons. Observe also that the feeding of the people was not the goal of the occasion – the people had continued with Christ for three days feeding on God’s word. We must go beyond the satisfaction of the people’s physical and material needs to meeting their spiritual needs.
As you reflect on the response of Christ in today’s text, think of what you can do to compassionately solve the spiritual and physical problems of people around you.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: To be unfeeling is a most dangerous spiritual state for a Christian.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Zechariah 6-9
