Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
When Jesus saw the crowds, he chose to see their harassment and helpless state, and he had compassion on them. It was not written: Jesus saw the crowds, and he had condemnation for them, because they were sinful and wretched. Followed by Jesus’ compassion was His action of sending out His disciples to the crowds to rescue them.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Christ is compassionate enough to reach out to us in whichever state we are in. He came to me when I was in the darkness and rescued me into the light 11 years ago. Since the 2nd quarter of this year, I have been struggling with confusion and was in a lost state. I started to doubt the way I pursued God for the past 11 years and was stuck in a dilemma of not knowing how to live my life.
I didn’t desire to draw near to Him; I feared that He was angry with me. But the Lord was never far away. There was a deep cry in my heart (I believe it’s from God): no matter how I struggle, help me, Lord, not to deny You. I shared my journey with brothers and sisters in Christ who were praying for me. Slowly, peace replaced the fear in my heart. I started to desire to draw near to Him. His very own presence in my struggles and falls, comforts me. He knew my every sin and yet He chose to see my harassment and helpless state; He had compassion on me and worked everything together for my good.
My dear brothers and sisters, let’s embrace the compassionate Lord in our struggles. When we desperately need Him, He compassionately never leaves us nor forsakes us; when we desperately want to hide from Him, He still compassionately never leaves us nor forsakes us. Whichever state you are in, turn to Him, embrace His presence now and struggle together with Him.
Dear Lord, thank You for having compassion on each one of us regardless of our state. You, the Lord of our life, want to save us, not to condemn us. Forgive our trespasses and empower us to embrace You wherever we are. Compel us to have compassion on the “crowd”, to see their harassment and helpless state, not their sins or wretchedness, and send us to them to preach good news of the kingdom and heal every disease and sickness. In Jesus’ compassionate Name I pray. Amen.
By Sister Wang Dan Dan (YCKC Bulletin 15 September 2019)