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Compassion in desperate times!

Scripture reading for August 4th: Amos 4-6, Psalm 55, Matthew 14

Matthew 14:10-14 “He (Herod) sent and had John (the Baptist) beheaded in prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. Now when Jesus heard this, He withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by Himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed Him on foot from the towns. When He went ashore He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

Matthew told the story of Jesus’ response to the beheading of John the Baptist by Herod due to an oath taken at a drunken party. Jesus lived and ministered in the wicked world of the Roman empire where violence and murder was common and the government was corrupt. This wickedness broke Jesus’ heart and He withdrew to seek His Father’s direction. However, lost and hurting people followed Jesus on foot and were there as He arrived. The compassion of the Father flowed through Jesus to heal all their sick and oppressed and even to feed them a meal! God’s love never fails!

Psalm 55:16-18 “But I call to God, the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and He hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them, He Who is enthroned from of old, because they do not change and do not fear God.”

Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your promises of hearing my prayers and protecting me and all believers from the traps of the wicked. We live in desperate times and I ask for a fresh anointing of power and compassion for the lost and hurting to counter the cruelty of this time. Pour out Your Spirit in conviction of the lost so that they might change and fear God to their salvation in Jesus Christ.

Amos 5:13-15 “Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time. Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”