September 19: Luke 7:11-15
Key Verse: Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’
Devotion:
Jesus continued to show His love and compassion for all people as He walked amongst us. Here a widow was mourning for her only son who had died, going to bury him to make sure he was well kept up until the end. Jesus saw the love this woman had for her son and saw through her heart she had lost everything she loved, both her husband and now her only son.
His compassion for this family made Him stop and touch the bier they were carrying the dead body out on. The people carrying the bier stopped and Jesus told the young man to get up. He chose His words carefully by saying “I say to you, ‘get up’” This was Jesus expressing the power of God, being the Son of God, telling the laws of nature to turn around and let this man live!
This happened after He had cured the centurion’s servant but before He met John. Jesus was loving the people around Him. This is the example He gives us to show the people around us. We must have compassion on the people we see around us and not walk on the other side of the road. How is God’s love going to continue spreading without people showing compassion.
We may not be able to bring people back from the dead but we can and should comfort people and care for our neighbours. We are the church, we are the legacy Jesus came to build on and strengthen. We must continue to do what we can to build up this wonderful church of God’s people and we do that by starting to show love, mercy and compassion!
Points to Ponder:
Do you sometimes shy away from helping people?
Why not give someone a hand today?