Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “Compassion” for Tuesday, 18 November 2014 - Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “Compassion” for Tuesday, 18 November 2014 - Scripture: Mark 1:40 A leper came to him, begging on his knees, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.”
41-45 Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy. Jesus dismissed him with strict orders: “Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people.” But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. So Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him, and came from all over.
Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”(Mark 1:41 (NIV))
Many years ago a neighbor lost one of her children through a tragic accident. I didn’t know her well, but due to the unusual circumstances of this child’s death, I cried for days. Finally, after several weeks had passed, I wrote my neighbor and was surprised to receive a return note. She said that messages like the one I had sent brought an occasional ray of sunshine to her day. Each year since that exchange, I have sent a note near the anniversary of her child’s death and one near his birthday.
Once on a chance meeting she hugged me and said, “Never let those cards stop coming. Everyone else forgets.” She expressed gratitude that even years later, someone could still share the grief that she never forgets.
Jesus was a man who understood compassion, and he taught us to share that compassion with others. Sometimes that compassion is as simple as sharing a hug, a note, a listening ear, and the love of Jesus.
The Author: Margie Harding (Maryland, USA)
Thought for the Day: Jesus calls us to show compassion.
Prayer: Compassionate Father, you know our pain. By your grace we can move forward when life hurts. Thank you for your healing touch. Amen.
Prayer focus: Parents grieving for a child
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