I’ve started reading through the Gospels again and a common theme is that everybody wanted a piece of Jesus. He handed out free food, commanded the weather, and healed people with broken legs so they could walk again. Crowds followed him and everyone had a question, comment, request or simply wanted to see what would happen.

One day Jesus and his friends were hiking the path to Jericho, where 1,400 years prior God miraculously made the city walls fall for the sake of His people, when Jesus was approached by two blind men asking Jesus to make their blindness fall. “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they were able to see, and they followed him.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:34‬ ‭CEB)

Jesus’ response is compassion, then action. Wow, I want to be like that. When someone asks me for help, it’s way too easy for my response to be suspicion, followed by driving away with my window up and my wallet still in my pocket. Just handing out $20s isn’t the point either. We have to see people for who they really are as children of God and be struck with compassion first. Compassion drives our action, and our action forms us into the image of Christ.

Thank you for your compassion and action to equip and empower pastors, children and families around the world. Your support and partnership is bringing transformation and hope to the lives of thousands, and we are deeply grateful.

May we be driven by compassion to action by the Spirit of Jesus Himself.

– Adam J. Nevins