Just read John chapter 11 this morning. It's the story of Lazarus' resurrection. In the past I've always focused on the power of God to bring something dead back to life. And rightly so, that is the main point of the passage. This morning I noticed something different.
Jesus was moved by compassion. You'd think a pastor with a seminary degree would know this, but it was a fresh insight this morning... Jesus begins to weep after spending time with the sisters who were mourning the death of their brother (v.35). He could not contain his compassion.
Compassion is the core emotion that drives ministry. Think about it. Without a healthy dose of God-inspired compassion - ministry can feel an aweful lot like a chore. Has ministry ever felt that way to you? Like a chore? It gets that way when we lose focus on WHY we are doing what we're doing. An outward focus fills our hearts. When a heart is filled with compassion it naturally overflows in life giving activity.
Compassion is the fuel of ministry. How's your compassion level?
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