Compassion for All

How do you view other people? Do you view your family and friends one way while viewing strangers completely different? What about your co-workers? How do you view people who are less fortunate or in bad situations?

It is natural for us to view our family and friends in a better light than strangers. Our co-workers are often viewed favorably, even if there are exceptions. We may view those we know or hear about who are less fortunate in a different way.

I suggest there is one point of view we should have toward all people, and especially those who do not know Jesus Christ. I suggest we look upon them with compassion. This is no mere “I feel sorry for them” viewpoint. It is an emotionally painful way of viewing them. It includes a physical reaction to the emotion.

Much as Jesus had compassion on the crowd because they were harassed, helpless, and like sheep without a shepherd, we should have compassion on people of our current time. Feeling compassion for them should motivate us to pray for them. We should ask that God enter their lives and make a positive change.

It all starts with how we view everyone. Do we view them as someone in need of a Savior? Or do we view them as less than human? Perhaps we have never thought about our view of others. By no means am I implying criminals should not be punished nor that we should not be wary in certain parts of town. I am clearly stating we should view every person as a child of God in need of a Savior.

I pray we view every person with compassion. I pray our compassion compels us to pray for others. I pray each one of us will be wary when warranted, but view everyone as a child of God in need of a Savior. Be compassionate. Pray God enters every person’s life. See every person as a child of God.

Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Compassionate Prayer

Are you a compassionate person? If not, do you want to be or think you should be? Do you know how to be compassionate, even if you cannot be with the person in need? Will you join them in the struggle they face?

Almost all of us have compassion for our family and friends. When they experience a hardship, we feel sorry for them and may offer to assist in some way. We may feel sorry for people who are affected by a weather disaster or war. But what do we do for them?

We can join in the struggle. We join by praying for those in need. We can spend a bit of time imagining the situation they face, putting ourselves in the midst of it, and asking what we would need. By doing this, we can better understand and increase our compassion for them. As our understanding and compassion improve, we can pray more effectively for them.

We may think that praying for others is minimal. It can be if our prayers are two-second, less than heartfelt prayers. But when we feel compassion for others, feeling as though we have been sucker punched in the gut, our prayers become more effective. God knows our feelings and our emotional investment in others. Jesus had this feeling for the people He encountered.

Paul asks for the people of the church in Rome to join him in his struggle by praying for him. He asked that they be emotionally committed, offering heartfelt prayers for him. Paul knew from his own experience that God listened to those intentional and intense prayers. God still listens when we pray with intensity and compassion.

I pray we all put ourselves in the situation in which we are praying for others. I pray we have compassion for others. I pray each one of us pray with intensity and compassion being emotionally involved. Join the struggle. Commit to prayer. Be compassionate. Pray intensely.

Romans 15:30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

The Importance of Prayer

Is your daily life extremely busy? Does it seem you are continually running at breakneck speed, and yet there is always more that needs done? Does your busyness steal your peace? Have you purposely set aside time to pray?

It seems we are busier now than we have ever been. There is a list of things to do longer than our arm. For some of us, it may seem as though that list is longer than our entire body. It seems to have gotten longer with staffing shortages.

We see “now hiring” signs in many business windows or on their electronic signs. Where have all the workers gone? The lack of workers puts more work on the shoulders of those who are working. The amount of work to be done has not lessened and may have increased. Though it may sound counterintuitive, this is exactly the type of environment in which we need to pray more.

In today’s passage, we see that Jesus was busy…very busy. Crowds of people came to both hear Him speak and to be healed of sickness. Think about that for just a moment. He was a teacher/preacher and a doctor. Talk about being busy! But Jesus took time to pray. Our passage states He often, underscore that word, often withdrew to quiet, isolated places to pray.

If Jesus took time to pray, shouldn’t we? Another point to make is that Jesus didn’t just pray for two minutes and get back to work. He would spend significant time in prayer, perhaps a few hours. To be as effective as we can be, we need to spend quality time in prayer. Jesus had plenty of work to do, but He knew two key points. First, there would always be work to do. Second, He needed to commune with His Father to have the strength for the work set before Him. We need to acknowledge and adhere to these two key points as well.

I pray we all commit to spending time in prayer. I pray we set aside more than a couple minutes to commune with God. I pray each one of us seek God’s guidance and strength to be more effective in the work set before us. Spend time with God. Ask God for his guidance. Ask God to provide strength. Commune with God daily. Be more effective in your work.

Luke 5:15-16 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

You Reap What You Sow

Have you heard the saying, “You reap what you sow?” Do you believe that saying to be true? If so, what are you sowing? Are you reaping what you have sown? Have you ever stopped, or at least slowed down, to think about it?

Most, if not all, of us have heard the saying. In fact, we may have even said it about others. We really like to say that when someone we know has done something very wrong and are now reaping the punishment or backlash from their wrongdoing.

But we must take stock in our own sowing. We must evaluate what we are doing, how we treat others, what we are saying about others, what we are reading, viewing, hearing. All of this is sowing. We are sowing ideas, whether false or true by what we read, watch, or listen to.

We also sow by our actions. When we go about doing good for others, we reap good. When we deny good or do bad to others, we reap the bad. When we complain about everything, is it any wonder we feel bad? When we talk negatively about others, is it any wonder others talk negatively about us?

More important than any of the above, we need to sow to please the Holy Spirit—God. Notice what we get in return as Paul tells the church in Galatia, we receive eternal life. Far too often we sow for the short-term gain of this life rather than for the long-term gain of eternal life. At some point, we reap what we sow. I don’t know about you, but I want to sow to gain eternal life. After all, it never ends, unlike this physical life we are living today.

I pray we all sow to please the Holy Spirit. I pray we sow to receive eternal life. I pray each one of us refuse to give up and sow to reap a harvest far beyond what we can imagine. Be mindful of what you sow. Sow to receive eternal life. Sow to please the Holy Spirit. Sow to reap a wonderful harvest.

Galatians 6:7-10 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Preparing and Planting

What are you sowing? Are you sowing the gospel of Jesus Christ? How much do you sow? Do you sow the seeds of the gospel everywhere you go? Do you know that not all seeds take root and grow into a fruitful plant?

Sowing the seeds of the gospel may seem difficult or challenging. After all, we have all run across people who do not want to know the truth. We know people who are hardened by the hatred of this world. We know people who have been wronged and will not listen to reason.

In many ways, people are like the soil of this earth. They must be prepared to receive the seed of the gospel. If they are hardened, we must spend time plowing the ground, turning it over and softening it. We may need to plow the ground multiple times. Some people may never soften their stance. They have become rocky soil and the seed will never take hold and grow.

Some people will soften. It may take years of work, but they will eventually let go of their grudges, hatred, and unforgiveness. When we see them do so, it becomes even more rewarding to see our hard work and patience pay off.

There are some who are already willing to accept the seed. Perhaps they have been prepared by others. Planting the seed and seeing it begin to grow happens quickly. There is much rejoicing in heaven when they come into the kingdom.

We can prepare the ground and sow the seeds of the gospel at all times. That doesn’t mean we only speak of Jesus directly. We can speak of the benefits of knowing Him and accepting Him as savior. We can speak of love, joy, peace, and contentment. We can speak being relieved of worry, anxiety, fear, anger, and hatred. This is plowing the field to prepare it for planting.

I pray we all go about preparing others to accept Jesus. I pray we sow the seeds of the gospel wherever we go. I pray each one of us go about doing the work God has set before us. Prepare people for the gospel. Plant the seeds of Jesus. Sow seed wherever you go. Go about the work God has prepared for you.

2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Ripe for Harvest

What do you know about farming? Do you know about preparing the soil? Do you know about planting the seed? What about fertilizing? Do you know when it is time to harvest the crop? Have you seen the signs of the times?

Jesus used a farming analogy several times during his ministry to teach the people. Most of us will understand the basics of preparing the soil, planting the seeds, fertilizing, and harvesting. Why does Jesus use this analogy when speaking of people?

Because it works! Think about it. Have you ever had someone speak an idea, you initially discard it, later consider it, and then decide to follow it? Have you ever used this method to entice someone else to do something you want them to do? I have…and I bet you have, even if you have not consciously thought about it.

Seeds get planted all the time. We plant seeds with our words. We have the option of planting good seed or bad seed. Which is why our attitudes and what we fill our hearts and minds with is so important. If we are filled with God, we will plant good seed.

In today’s passage, Jesus says the fields are ripe for harvest. He is telling His disciples that someone else has planted. In their case, Jesus is pointing to the prophets. But this applies to us as well. In our case, it is all our predecessors who have taught about Jesus. There is always a crop ready to be harvested.

Jesus says we are to open our eyes. See those who are ready to accept Him for who He is. This means also opening our ears, listening to what people say. Truly listening and seeing people will help us identify the crop that is ready to be harvested. When we identify them, we gather them into the kingdom of God.

I pray we all open our eyes to see the harvest. I pray we listen intently to what people say. I pray each one of us seeks to be a helper in gathering the harvest that has been prepared for us. Be attentive to others. Listen to their words. See the ripe fields. Be a harvester. Bring people into the kingdom of God.

John 4:35 “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

Put God’s Word Into Practice

How well do you put words into practice? Do you believe actions are better than words? Do you readily adhere to good advice? Will you put God’s Word into practice?

Jesus doesn’t pull any punches. He plainly states that putting His words into practice is wise. The illustration He uses is one of preparation. Let’s make no bones about it, there is a storm coming. Will we be prepared?

Jesus says those who put His words into practice will be prepared for the storm. If we put His words into practice, we will be standing when the storm is over. What storm is coming?

We may think of the storms of this life. It is true that we will face storms in this life. Evil exists and does whatever it can to cause us to trip, fall, and succumb to its will. By putting Jesus’ words into practice, we are prepared for those attacks.

But I believe Jesus meant there was a far larger storm coming, while not diminishing the storms we face in this life. I believe He is referring to the storm of storms when He shall return to claim His own. Those who put His words into practice will be gathered by Him, while those who do not will be destroyed.

There is no gray area. We are either for Him or against Him. We either adhere to His Word or we ignore Him. We will either stand at the end of time or be destroyed.

I pray we all choose to put Jesus’ words into practice. I pray we decide to follow His advice. I pray each one of us remains standing when Jesus returns to claim His own. Heed Jesus’ words. Put His words into practice. Be prepared for the storms of life. Be prepared for the final storm.

Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Do As God Guides

Are you following the plan today? Are you doing what God planned for you today? Are you listening for His voice today? Are you willing to hear what He wants you to do and do it? Will you be in God’s will today and every day?


We have lots of demands put on us. There are demands from our boss. There are demands from our teacher. There are demands from our spouse or dating partner. There are demands from our parents. Yet, how many more demands do we put on ourselves?


We put as many or more demands on ourselves as others do … every day. Some come from our innate desires. Some come from our learned desires. Some come from our desire for self-improvement. Some come from our desire to be accepted. All are self-generated. But what can we do about them?


We can simplify our lives. We can reduce the demands we put on ourselves. We do that by listening to God and His direction for us. When we are doing what God wants us to do, our life becomes simpler. God has specific tasks He wants us to do. Many of those are written in His Word, in the Bible. Yet there are also many that come to us through His Spirit—from that quiet inner voice. We are to listen and do what He wants us to do.


I know, many of you will say “I don’t hear that voice.” Folks, if you don’t hear that voice, I suggest you slow down, set aside some quiet time, and pray earnestly to God to help you hear His voice. We fill our days with so much noise that we often don’t hear Him. When we spend quiet time with God, more than just a couple minutes, we can block out the noise of the world and hear the plan and desire God has for us.


One thing I’ve learned over the years is that it takes practice to learn to hear God. We must learn to block out the worries of this world and focus on God. It’s a little challenging when we first start doing this, but it becomes easier as we continue the practice. In fact, it will get to the point that you can hear God, even in a crowded, noisy restaurant.


I pray each of us will decide to set aside some quiet time today to spend with God. I pray we each do so, no just today, but every day. I am confident that you will hear God if you do and you keep at it. Listen for God. Hear His Spirit talk to you. Do as He guides you. Trust in Him. God is faithful.

James 1:22-24 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Confidence in Prayer

Are you confident when you pray? Do you believe you will receive what you ask from God? How is your heart? Does it belong fully to God? Are you keeping his commands? Are you doing what pleases him?

Our prayers can be powerful, extremely powerful. After all, God is the all-powerful God. He can do anything. There are no restrictions, no limitations, no impossibilities. What limits the power of our prayers? Us.

It is not our asking that limits our prayers. God has the ability to do whatever we ask. It is our hearts and our actions that limit our prayers. Our hearts must belong fully to God. They cannot be divided among God, our personal desires, and worldly desires. This is our first hurdle to clear. Our commitment to him must be complete.

The second hurdle is much easier once we clear the first one. We must obey his commands. If our hearts are fully committed to God, obeying him isn’t nearly as difficult. Our struggle in obeying him is a heart that is torn between our selfish desires and our desire to obey him.

Have you ever wondered how the apostles were able to miraculously heal people? It was not simply because Jesus gave them power to do so. He gave them power because they were fully committed to Him. Being fully committed, they knew God’s will and were filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.

No, there is no magical formula to have our prayers answered. It is simple and yet very difficult. We must turn our hearts completely to God so they do not condemn us with guilt, then obey his commands, doing what pleases him. We can do it if we make up our mind to do so.

I pray we all commit completely to God. I pray we rid ourselves of the guilt of disobedience. I pray each one of us will decide to have a heart for God and obey his commands. Know that prayer can be powerful. Commit your heart to God. Obey God’s commands. Do what pleases him. Set aside your personal desires.

1 John 3:21-22 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.

Follow God’s Instruction

What does it mean to you to work? Do you like the work you do? Is your job rewarding? Is your place of work the only place you work? Have you thought about the work you do outside your job? Are you working for God?

We often think of work as the job we are hired for. Working at our jobs are a significant part of the work we do. There are some who define who they are by the job they have. But the job we have does not, and I dare say should not, define who we are.

I submit to you that we all work at many things outside our jobs. Parents work at providing for their children and keeping them safe. We work at cooking meals, maintaining our homes and vehicles, volunteering, coaching, and helping others. We don’t often think of these activities as work, but they are.

So, when we talk about working for God, for the vast majority of us, that work falls into the category of working outside our jobs. It competes with those other activities. But the work we do for God is wider and more comprehensive than all those activities put together.

Working for God includes working on yourself, having an attitude of God, allowing Him to permeate everything we do, praying, seeking to know him better, and all those things listed above. Truly working for God is putting him in the middle of everything we do, including our jobs. It means hearing his instruction and following it.

I pray we all choose to work for God. I pray we hear God’s instruction and follow it. I pray each one of us allow God to permeate everything we do. Hear God’s Word. Read God’s Word. Choose to follow God’s instruction. Allow God to permeate your life. Choose to work for God.

Hebrews 6:10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.