So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. -Luke 15:20 NIV
Some of the most moving images in all of scripture is the ones of Jesus being moved by compassion when he saw the many needs of his Jewish brothers and sisters. What do you think that looked like? How did the disciples know that he was being moved by compassion. My thinking is that they saw the Lord crying. And as he wept they watched him heal.
In this passage we see such an image of the heavenly Father. His prodigal son is returning from years of raucous living and wasted resources. The temptation to anger and disappointment is great. Yet the Father is filled with compassion for his son. It is a true reminder of how we must react towards those who have disappointed us and let us down.
Lord, please give us compassionate feet that run with weeping towards those who need us the most.
... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on words in the bible.
Compassion is the quality I desire the most. I think I could do okay without a lot of the others as long as I have compassion.
ReplyDeleteI share that desire Fred.
Delete