Caring for the Needs Next Door
Jesus' compassion is not just a feeling, but a call to action that compels us to meet the needs of others.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that Jesus exemplified true compassion, which goes beyond mere sympathy to compel action. He illustrates how Jesus was 'moved with compassion' for the weary and scattered, leading Him to actively teach, preach, and heal. Wilkerson challenges Christians to reflect on their own compassion, urging them to respond to the needs around them rather than remaining passive. He encourages believers to ask God how they can help those in need within their own communities, highlighting that God will present opportunities for service. Ultimately, he calls for a commitment to embody God's compassionate heart in practical ways.
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During his time on the earth, Jesus was the embodiment of God's compassion. Scripture frequently says that Christ "was moved with compassion" by the suffering of people (see Matthew 14:14).
Most Christians would like to think that they are compassionate. But even the worst sinners are "moved" when they hear of the suffering of children. Compassion is not just pity or sympathy. True compassion compels us to act.
We read of Jesus: "When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). The phrase "moved with compassion" here means, "stirred to action." So what did Jesus do about it? He didn't just talk. No, his heart was stirred at what he saw and he had a consuming desire to change things.
"Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every diseased among the people" (9:35). This was not some vain theology. Jesus didn't just get alone with the Father and say, "Father, send laborers into your harvest." He went himself! He laid hands on lepers and got deeply, practically, intimately involved.
We read, "Whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17). As you look around and see human need, your compassionate heart should cry out, "God, what do you want me to do?" We should not have to travel any farther than our own neighborhood to find needs that we can help to meet.
God wants you to be a part of his compassionate heart to the world. If you are truly willing to do that, he will send needs right to your doorstep. So present yourself to the Lord to be used and watch him open many doors for you.
Sermon Outline
- The Compassion of Jesus
- The Action of Jesus
- The Call to Compassion
- We should be moved to action by the needs of others
- We should seek God's guidance on how to meet those needs
Key Quotes
“Compassion is not just pity or sympathy, but a call to action.” — David Wilkerson
“Whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We should be moved to action by the needs of others and seek God's guidance on how to meet those needs.
- God will send needs right to our doorstep if we are willing to be used to meet them.
- We should not have to travel far to find needs that we can help to meet, starting with our own neighborhood.