Written by Paul Lane
The Word
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 4:19 (ESV)
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:17 (ESV)
40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
Mark 1:40-41 (ESV)
Reflection
I had a wonderful high school track coach. He was also my physical science teacher, and he had a way of blending humor, teaching, and compassion into every interaction. He challenged us to run faster by making a contract with us at the beginning of the season. We would each have to agree to a time that we would beat at some point in the season to get a steak dinner at his house. He and his wife were great cooks, so we were “game on” all season. I’m not sure that would work for not sinning, but I’m pretty sure that would be the wrong approach to it all. This was about doing, not about not doing.
My friend Scott and I would often just show up at his house and hang out with his kids. The Samaras house was a place we could build community with our other high school friends. We would play with the kid’s toys, build train sets, and I even learned how to use some of his shop tools to do woodwork. When they moved from their rent house into their home, we helped them move. We repaired walls and helped him put in their back door. Little did I know that while I was doing these things, I was learning skills that I would have for a lifetime.
Today, that community is still alive. We don’t see each other often, but we still live within each other’s hearts. And the Samaras home is still there for us. When Coach passed away, there was a great ingathering of that community. My friend Chris said that he had lost a father, and I lost a dear friend and mentor. But in our time together we learned to love, we learned to laugh, and we learned to learn. And in the midst of that community, we learned how to care for each other with a compassion that is unshakable.
Application
What is it that walks on four legs in the morning, two during the day, and three in the evening? A man.
We, as humans, go through stages in life, and the transitions can be difficult. We get married, have children, change jobs, and so on. Our responsibilities change. We lose things, win thing. We hope, and are fulfilled or disappointed. We grow taller, or not tall enough. We buy new cars, used cars, bikes. We go to school; we drop out of school; start over. We fall in and out of love. Our hearts break. We have fights, disagreements, legal actions, government actions, war! It’s all there in our lives. And if that’s all there is, it will be unbearable. Let Lazarus dip his finger in the water that my tongue might be cooled (Luke 16:24).
We must admit that life is full of difficulties, and that we need help, lest we become hard hearted and lose the ability to receive love and compassion. There is a great reservoir of compassion for you. You only need be open to it, and don’t assume you know from whence it will come. And before you know it, your heart will heal. Your disappointments will be less disappointing. And you will grow in compassion, and your ability to share it, in His love.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I pray for grace in difficult times. I pray for love and understanding. And I pray that I might learn the ways of Your compassion. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
City Life Starter 
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