a piece of the story

In Matthew 9, one of Jesus’ many encounters with the hard and skeptical Pharisees, He says… “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But GO and LEARN what this means: (Hosea 6:6) I desire COMPASSION and not sacrifice.”

That statement resonates in my mind quite frequently. The gospel of truth is His compassion, it’s all because of Love. You can read it in the gospels, you can read it in the epistles, you can read it in the prophets and all through out the bible. Jesus is the MOST COMPASSIONATE man. His heart is moved by His precious and fragile creation. It’s proven in His mercy and His patience. And He’s openly displayed it through the cross.

As I’m challenged by His great compassion, I want to encourage you in it as well. In Matthew’s account of Jesus just 3 short chapters after His initial call to the Pharisees, He rebukes them. Saying, “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.” He wasn’t asking them to have it all figured out and come back with an essay or report, It’s interesting that He simply said “GO” and “LEARN.”

I find it mostly sobering. We live in a day where injustice is rampant. And it’s been perverted to the core with the concept of social justice, which holds massive a weight of deception. We live in “comfort and safety” and yet the world is unraveling in record time. We don’t even have to look across the ocean to see it. It’s across the street from us nearly all of us. 

Often times I wonder “why is it so easy to overlook such urgent need?” simple answer: I/We are selfish. but why? why can i hear statics, see pictures, videos, hear real stories and testimonies, walk there and see it with my own eyes and I can think it the most horrific thing but not be moved enough to say or do much of anything? My life still looks the same, I still live in my “comfortable safe zone.” How is that ok? Is the Lord bothered at all?

Reading about Jesus, this God whose heart is knit with the fibers of compassion, who has had such mercy on me, who I’m supposed to be conformed to…. I just think it’s not ok for us to go on so happy and comfortable and safe and say it’s up to some one else or just plead ignorant and walk around in bliss. what if His body, was alined with His heart? what would happen to the world around us? What if His body was so conformed and moved and broken by His heart… What if we had such a love… such a heart that considers the interest of Jesus and not our own (Philippians 2:20-21) and cares for the need of others, the spiritual need and even their physical condition. 

I know there are people who carry a piece of His heart of compassion and won’t rest contending and fighting for breakthrough….walking in compassion and maybe you are one of them, if you are be encouraged, It’s the Father’s Heart. But for the rest of us (yes, me too) may it be a small kick in the butt… what are we doing?

I leave you with the challenging words of Jesus, Himself, “But GO and LEARN what this means: (Hosea 6:6) I desire COMPASSION and not sacrifice.“ 

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For the sake of semantics:
True Justice is only executed by Jesus Himself on that day when He comes back executing justice on the earth and condemning the unrighteous and redeeming the ones made righteous only by His own blood.
I believe it is His heart that we partner with His heart of Justice through works of compassion and the ultimate injustice is undoubtedly that one would be lost in their sin and in need of the Good News of a Savior. Because of the depravity of man and sin we experience many measures of injustices..
By saying social justice is perverted and deceptive i’m not in any way saying it’s wrong to do acts of compassion/or justice, in fact I think it’s really good, and really needful. let’s use our resources on someone other than ourselves… i want to. I just believe those acts separated from the message of hope found in the gospel will not do anyone any good in the end. 
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links to some awesome info/resources:
Safe Families
Orphan Justice Center 
Exodus Cry