Day 8: That we would see our community with the eyes of Jesus
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34 ESV)
I doubt the massive and needy crowd would have gotten a warm reception from the hungry and exhausted disciples. Yet, Jesus sees this desperate crowd with the eyes of compassion and causes him to act. He feeds them not only the physical food of miraculous bread but also the spiritual food of teaching from heaven. Jesus’ compassion is always greater than the strength of His disciples. I’m convinced this is one reason we are sometimes guilty of turning a blind eye to the suffering within our communities—we know what will happen if we view our community with the eyes of Jesus. Seeing things with the eyes of Jesus will put us in situations of which we aren’t comfortable, it will demand things of us which we don’t have the strength for, and ultimately push us outside of ourselves. Yet, we must view our community with the eyes of Jesus.
Lord, we thank you for the compassion with which you looked upon us. We are grateful for your tender mercies to us when you would have been perfectly just to have left us in our sin. We know that you view the hapless crowd with the eyes of compassion. Lord, help us do the same. Help us to see our communities the way that you see them and to respond accordingly. May your compassion move us to action.
