Day 16 - The Good News of God’s Love

By: Joy Hardin

SCRIPTURE
35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields” (Matthew 9:35-38, NLT).

DEVOTIONAL
“Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching … and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction” (Matthew 9:35, ESV). When I think of the first occasions of the Gospel or Good News being shared, I think of Paul, Peter, and the other early disciples sharing the completed Gospel: the story of Jesus’ birth, sinless life, death, burial, and resurrection. That’s what the word “Gospel” or “Good News” means. Yet here we see Jesus proclaiming the Gospel or Good News of the Kingdom a couple of years before the disciples. We know Jesus didn’t tell of His coming sacrifice until later in His ministry (see Matthew 16:21 and 17:22-23), so what message did He share? The word for kingdom denotes sovereignty, royal power, and dominion. Jesus taught with authority (Matthew 7:29). His message was a message of hope and of salvation. He demonstrated sovereignty and power over sickness as He went about preaching, proclaiming and “healing every kind of disease and illness” (NLT).

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36, ESV). Jesus looked on the multitudes, yet I believe He saw each individual hurt and need. That’s why His compassion was so deep. The compassion Jesus felt was a deep yearning, a heart-wrenching emotion. How wonderful it is to know that we have a Savior with all authority who cares about us personally! He sees our deepest hurts, He sees our tears, and He weeps and sympathizes with us. (See Psalm 56:8, Luke 19:41, John 11:35, and Hebrews 4:15).  

“He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields” (Matthew 9:37-38, NLT). Does it really seem that there are more people waiting to respond to the gospel than there are workers? It may not appear to be true in our world today, but I believe it is. The word used here for “send” can also mean to cast. When I was a kid, my dad fished a lot in the Atlantic Ocean. He had nets and would cast (or send) them out to catch shrimp. Often, however, he would catch things he didn’t expect. (Unlike my dad, Jesus’ sending was and is specific, planned, and intentional.) Just like my dad fishing for shrimp and catching an old boot or a mullet, if we’re faithful to share Jesus, we are going to reel in some people we don’t expect. We tend to invite those who we think want to hear the Good News. But we are to go seeking and having compassion on all who need Him. When we fish for shrimp, but catch mullet, we may be disappointed, but God can use a mullet for His good and His glory. He has compassion and love for even the most unlikely catch. Jesus saw what we sometimes don’t– people want to come to Him, they need hope, and they need a Savior.  

ACTION STEP
In 9:38 Jesus told the disciples to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send more workers, then in Matthew 10:5, He sent those same people out. Sometimes God expects us to be the answer to our own prayers. What or who are you praying for that God may want to use you as the answer? Who is the most unlikely person you can think of who would want to hear about Jesus? Make a list of people who need Jesus, and begin to pray for opportunities to share with them. Take home several Church at the Grove invite cards and give them to the people you are praying for this week.  
 
PRAYER TIME
Lord, give me a heart of compassion and a desire to obey. Help me to be willing to inconvenience myself to show others Your love and compassion. Use me to be the answer to my own prayers!