Author and psychologist Madeline Levine once met with a 15-year-old girl who was “bright, personable, highly pressured by her adoring, but frequently preoccupied . . . parents.” Levine recognized the girl’s “cutter disguise”—a long-sleeve T-shirt pulled halfway over her hand with an opening torn in the cuff for her thumb. When the young girl pulled back her sleeve, Levine was startled to find what the girl had carved into her forearm: “EMPTY” . . . sadness and confusion personified.
Jesus meets our emptiness with deep compassion. As He conducted His itinerant ministry, teaching and preaching the good news, He observed the crowds (Matthew 9:36). The people were perpetually hurting, bewildered, and defeated, having been flayed by life and the spiritual abuse of religious leaders. They were like sheep hounded by wolves, having no shepherd to guide and protect them. Matthew wrote, “When he saw the crowds, [Jesus] had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). His passion for the needs of the crowd caused Him to ask His disciples to pray for workers to go out and continue His ministry to a lost world (Matthew 9:37-38).
As we open our eyes and hearts we see that there are hurting and empty people all around us. We shouldn’t look at them with fear, but with compassion—displaying an attitude of mercy toward their needs that ultimately grows into action as we seek appropriate ways to help. As we hold out the truth that Jesus carried our sins on the cross and that by His wounds we are healed, His compassion flows from us and fills those who are lost in emptiness.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 22:1-19
More:
Read Luke 19:10 and John 10:10 and note why Jesus came to rescue us.
Next:
How has Jesus’ compassion touched your life? Who in your sphere of influence is empty and needs His compassion? How can you provide it this week?
Gary Shultz on January 13, 2016 at 6:49 am
My heart goes out to people like this 15 year old girl. She represents a large host of folks that can’t seem to find the hope in the Christ who loves them. Not only has Christ’s compassion touched my life, it has grasp it and has not let go. My arm could always say full, if I would be more attentive. But, the challenge, we need to be challenged, how and who can we pour the full into the empty. Lord give us sight, if we engage no one now may we better prepare ourselves for that opportunity. Marvin, thanks for the thought and the challenge.
gagirllive on January 13, 2016 at 9:39 am
Yes, Lord, give us eyes to see and hearts to love the empty people all around us. I pray that we will go about our day with intentionality…looking for the opportunity when God will show us that empty person. That is the challenge. Too often we are self -focused with our own agenda to see the harvest that is ripe before us. Thank you, Marvin, for this good word of exhortation today.
Tom Felten on January 13, 2016 at 10:45 am
Marvin, it’s difficult to pour out Christ-like compassion when we’re consumed with our own interests and busyness. Praying for all of us, that we’ll truly see and listen to the hurting people God brings our way today!