Lent: Journey According To LukeSample

COMPASSION

DEVOTION
The week I found out I was not able to father children was without a doubt the worst week of my life. It felt like all my hopes, dreams, and desires for my future were over. Out of all the moments of struggle and pain that week, one event stands out the most. A friend from my seminary class came into my office, knelt with me and wept. He didn’t try to offer any empty words of positivity or a fake smile to cheer me up. He just understood my pain and met me in it. I was struck by the emotion that he was exhibiting; though it was only later I was able to put a name to it. It’s called compassion.

The story of Jesus raising the widow’s son in Nain is one of Luke’s most powerful stories of compassion. Jesus enters the town at the same time a widow and large crowd of mourners are proceeding out towards the final burial place of her only son. Jesus literally walks straight into the worst day of this poor mother’s life. Luke tells us ‘his heart went out to her’, and out of this compassion he does three things – he speaks comfort to her, acts to change her situation, and restores her joy. Jesus changes everything simply because his heart was moved. This is the wonderful power and awe of our God, that he holds the whole universe in his hands and yet still has time to care deeply for his people - to meet us in our need.

FOR REFLECTION
• Perhaps there is a situation in your life right now where you need Jesus to walk straight in, meet you in it, turn towards you in compassion, and change everything. He may not say what you expect, or do exactly what you want, but if his presence comes to be with you in the midst of your situation, that is what you need most.
• His presence in Nain changed everything, and his presence in your ‘Nain’ can do the same. He can reach out and touch the coffin of what is dead in your life, and revive it afresh.

PRAYER
Gracious Father, I thank you that you are forever compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. May I know more and more each day that wonderful peace of your abiding presence in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.