Hi Brian!
I hope you had a wonderful vacation! We had a great time getting to know your beautiful daughter and staying in your home. Thank you again!
The "word" for this week is compassion. Many times in the New Testament it is the Greek word "splanchnizomai", which means: to be moved as to one's inward parts, to be moved with compassion, to yearn with compassion. Where the dictionary definition of sympathy is: the fact or power of sharing feelings of another, especially in sorrow or trouble; the dictionary definition for compassion is: a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. That is what we see operating in Jesus throughout the New Testament when He ministered to people! Some examples:
Matthew 14:14: And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.
Matthew 20:34: So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
Mark 1:41: And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and said unto him, "I will; be clean".
Mark 6:34: And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things.
Notice that in these situations, Jesus was MOVED! He preached the Gospel, He taught the Word, He healed the sick, He cast out demons, He fed the multitude. He did something! MOST people have sympathy for others, but not many are moved with compassion! Compassion will always find something, or someone, to help! We won't always be able to help personally, but we can always pray. Then we can direct them to someone who CAN help them!
I don't know why this is the word for this week, but I'm sure you will probably have an opportunity to be moved with compassion! Just like Jesus! Here is the song "Mighty To Save" by Hillsong that mentions compassion:
Have a great week!
With love and blessings from the Swoveys!
