3-Minute Devotions to Laugh and ReflectSample

The Personal Touch

Considering the limited number of first-century communication options, Jesus’s ministry was quite diverse. He was such a popular teacher that he often had to find physical space to accommodate large crowds, including preaching from a boat anchored just offshore (Luke 5:1–3) and on a mountainside (Matthew 5:1). For more intensive training on a regular basis, he chose a group of twelve with whom he could interact. And when it came to his miracles—especially healings—his attention was usually more personal and private (Mark 5:37–43).

The key to Jesus’s effective ministry was his compassion. When we are in a crowd, we see the pokey drivers who delay us or the person in the supermarket line who waits until their groceries are bagged before starting to look for their debit card. But when Jesus was in a crowd, he saw “sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

Sometimes a quick email of encouragement is sufficient. More often, however, hurting people appreciate a personal touch of ministry: a warm hug, the smell of a home-cooked meal being shared, or for many who live alone, just the sound of a friendly voice.

Electronic media can quickly and conveniently reach a lot of people. But a ministry of compassion usually requires a block of time and a real live person who cares.

We adapted this plan from another resource. Learn more at http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/3-minute-devotions-to-laugh-and-reflect/398322