What Moves Me?
Yesterday, I shared a little thought from Acts 20:24, but here’s another one –
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
In my Bible, beside this verse, I have written – “What moves me?” Paul said that none of THESE things move him. What DID move him? What would move an individual to knowingly enter cities where he would be persecuted?
As I’ve thought about the above verse, I would have to say that at least one thing that was moving Paul was compassion. Any fears he may have experienced were overridden by his compassion for the lost as well as edification of believers. A very well-known Bible story that perfectly illustrates an individual being moved with a heart of compassion is that of the Good Samaritan – “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him” Luke 10:33 Despite the hostility between the Jews and Samaritans, this man’s heart of compassion dominated any negative feelings toward the Jews and thus led him to aid the wounded traveler. Whatever is deep in our hearts will not only come out of our mouths but will also move us to action – both positive and negative.
Being moved with compassion, Jesus told his disciples to pray for more laborers – “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:36-38
Being moved with compassion, Jesus healed the sick – “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” Matthew 14:14
Being moved with compassion, Jesus taught – “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.” Mark 6:34
Being moved with compassion, a lord forgave his servant – “Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.” Matthew 18:27
On the negative side:
Being moved with envy, Joseph’s brothers sold him – “And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt…” Acts 7:9
Being moved with envy, the unbelieving Jews persecuted the Christians – “But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.” Acts 17:5
As Proverbs 4:23 reminds us – “KEEP thy heart with all diligence; for out of IT are the issues of life.” – how very important to keep a close watch on what we allow in our hearts, for it is THESE things that will move us to action.
Today, will a heart of compassion move us to make a difference in someone else’s life?
“And of some have compassion, making a difference:” Jude 22
~ Rachel ~