“And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the multitude, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not wish to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
Matthew 15:32
[Note: These are the words of God whispered to my heart after I read the above Scripture. I first prayed James 1:21, asking God to help me put aside all filthiness in the moral cesspool of this fallen world and all evil influence and humbly receive His Word, as His Spirit implants it into my mind to transform the way I think.]
“Both miracles of feeding thousands were in remote places. One was in the desert (Matthew 14:13-21), and the other was on a mountain (Matthew 15:29-38). The result was the same. They both were staged to show human desperation. Just look around you–it’s not hard to see. All over the world, and in your own neighborhood, people are desperate. Their hearts are in a lonely, remote place, void of My joy and peace. What will you attempt today, in both prayer and action, that requires My help to meet human needs? When you see a need, ask Me to intervene through your life. Use the resources I provide you, put them into My hands in prayer, and watch ‘a little’ turn into ‘much.’ I will show you exactly what to do.
“My compassion in this story was for their physical limitations, not to fill their stomachs or provide pleasure.
“The multitudes were caught up in the miracles and would have perished in the desert or on that mountain had Jesus not intervened. They would have died in their sins. Do you want to see people die in their sins? My compassion involves eternity. So should yours, not just to meet short-term, immediate needs. Yes, meet those too, in order to help meet their eternal needs.”
[Note: This is my response to God’s personal words whispered to my heart.]
“Father, fill me with Your compassion. Stir up my emotions. Point out those who have needs that You want to meet through me. Prompt me to get over myself, get off my rear, get out of my shell, and go look for ways to meet needs. As I do this, You have promised to intervene in the lives of others. I believe You will do what You promise, and therefore I will watch for Your power to be displayed in each circumstance, for Your glory and to bless others. Send someone into my life today with a real need and point them out to me. Fill me with love for them, the same love that sent Jesus to the cross, then the grave, and out again!”
[God’s response]
“Bill, sometimes I will send people from your own family, sometimes neighbors or from the body of Christ, and sometimes total strangers. Be on the alert for anyone, any need, anytime, day or night. Expect the need to be so great that only My supernatural power working through your life can meet it. This is one way I will glorify Myself in all the earth.”
Written by Bill Yancey