“Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said.” (Matthew 8:2-3, NLT)
What compels you to take the actions you take each day?
Jesus’ heart of compassion compelled Him to help, intervene, to take action. The love of God shed abroad in His heart moved Him to touch the untouchables, accept the rejected, dine with the unclean, and see those whom society preferred to remain invisible. Jesus couldn’t help but reflect the heart of His heavenly Father among even the most unlovable people.
Allow God to speak to you about how He’d like you to respond with compassion as you walk with Him each day.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for closing my eyes to the pain others experience. Show me how I can be Your hands and feet to those You bring across my path, to listen and respond with a heart like Yours.
(taken from Daily Wisdom for Women, 2018 Devotional Collection, 1/11/18)
https://youtu.be/WIMvj5GQ4GM
Today I am joining … Open Sunday Thoughts and Spiritual Sundays and Scripture & a Snapshot .
This is a beautiful, gentle call to follow Jesus. Thank you Joanne💗
Thank you, Julie. May we be willing to follow His call.
I really pray I will be able to do what God asks of me in each moment. I tend to get frazzled with the kids and sucked into our small hemisphere when we are out in public, but I want to be able to LOOK UP and notice the others around me better.
Jamie, something about the way your comment is written brought this thought to mind … perhaps all you need to do is take notice of those who take notice of you and your kids as you are out and about.
“I am willing.” Such simple words that mean much when we live them. Thank you for sharing these devotions each Sunday.
May we keep on praying, “Make me willing” in the days ahead.
This is beautiful, Joanne, and thank you for sharing the song!
For what it’s worth, I’m called to say, out loud and in words, that I don’t resent dying, that the pain really IS ok, and that my life is still good. There may be hard hours and days, but there are also blessings.
Andrew, so very grateful you can say those words for it is worth MUCH! Friend, you continually point us to Jesus and His strength. Praying for you & Barb!
“A heart like Yours” yes please.
Jesus loving through me-that’s what I desire.
I love Jesus’ gentle assurance that he is willing to heal. <3