INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS

One’s actions demonstrate true compassion. Five times the Bible uses the phrase moved with compassion (Matthew  9:36; Matthew 14:14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
See All...; Matthew 18:27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
See All...; Mark 1:41And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
See All...; Mark 6:34And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
See All...). Four of the five references refer to Christ’s compassion toward others. True compassion always moves people to do something for others. In Mark 6:34-44 [34] And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. [35] And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: [36] Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. [37] He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? [38] He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. [39] And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. [40] And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. [41] And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. [42] And they did all eat, and were filled. [43] And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. [44] And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
See All..., the disciples wanted to send the crowd away hungry, but Christ refused to send them away empty. He would not allow the multitudes to leave His presence still in need. In this one example, Christ's compassion fed thousands when others would have sent them away faint and hungry. The Lord not only fed thousands with two small fishes and five loaves of bread, but also produced a miraculous amount of leftovers.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children) Jesus loved the people and did not want them to go away hungry. Amazingly, He fed a hungry crowd of more than 5,000 men with one boy’s lunch. Dad and mom love you and ensure that you always have food enough to keep you healthy.
• (For everyone) It is obvious, from the context, that the Lord and His disciples were very tired. Yet, we find the disciples learning an important lesson about serving others. What does this teach us about serving others rather than making excuses?
• The Lord performed a miracle of compassion using what the disciples already had. What does this teach us about what the Lord wants us to use in serving Him?

PRAYER THOUGHTS

• How do you feel about your level of compassion for others? Is this something with which you need God’s help?
• Ask God to open doors of opportunity for you to demonstrate your compassion toward others.

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Footprints of Jesus

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