Bible Ref: Matthew 9: 18-38
Have you noticed how God just doesn’t seem to come up in conversation as much anymore? Especially with our younger generation, His name doesn’t roll off the tongue the way it did when many of us were growing up. I remember a time—back when I was a child—when God’s name was spoken in our home daily. We knelt at the bedside each night, and we prayed prayers straight from the Word. Somewhere along the way, many of us drifted from those habits. I’ll be the first to admit—I’ve slipped too.
But now, as both a mother and a grandmother, I feel an urgency to bring God back to the center—back into our homes, our routines, and our daily conversations. When my children or grandkids are facing something hard, I don’t see it as just a problem—I see it as a moment. A moment to teach, to speak life, and to help them understand what God says about who we are and how we are to live.
Now don’t get me wrong—I’m not what some folks call a “holy roller,” but you’re not going to stop me from talking about my God. If someone doesn’t want to hear it, that’s fine. I’ll respectfully bow out and take my faith with me. But you better believe I’m going to speak up when the moment calls for it.
Because now more than ever—we need God. We need His love, His peace, and His compassion.
In Matthew 9:18–38, we see a clear picture of Jesus’ heart. His compassion wasn’t passive—it moved Him. It drove Him to touch lives, heal bodies, and speak hope. And there are three beautiful lessons I pulled from this scripture:
- There’s an urgency to act. Jesus saw the people were lost and hurting. He said, “The harvest is plentiful” (v.36–37). That still holds true today. There are so many hurting souls and not enough of us willing to step up and serve.
- Love and compassion come first. Jesus didn’t care about social status, reputation, or labels. He responded to the woman with the issue of blood just as He did the ruler with status (v.18–20). He saw people, not positions.
- Prayer is the foundation. Before the workers could be sent into the harvest, Jesus said to pray for them (v.38). If we’re going to do this work, it starts on our knees.
I believe with all my heart that God is calling us back to a place of compassion. There’s so much brokenness in this world—and not just globally, but in our communities, our families, our neighborhoods. And instead of pointing fingers or making assumptions about why someone is struggling, we are called to show grace. We don’t know the full story. Only God does. And what might look like a setback could very well be the setup for something beautiful God is about to do.
Just like I wrote about last week—God has a way of turning what looks like a mess into a miracle. You can trust Him for that. He will make it for good.
So here’s my invitation to you: Let’s follow Jesus’ lead. Let’s be the ones who see people—really see them—and respond with kindness and care. One of God’s greatest commandments is to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But how can we do that if we haven’t learned to love ourselves?
If you’re wondering where to begin, here’s a simple place to start:
Be grateful. Then be generous.
Show kindness. Volunteer your time. Find someone to help—not because you have all the answers, but because you have love to give. The greatest test isn’t how well we care for our friends—it’s how well we care for strangers.
So, will you join me?
Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Let’s bring kindness back to the center.
Let’s be the change we want to see in the world.
Because doing the work isn’t just a choice—it’s a calling.
Ok, I have a great worship song today. One of my favorites. Come Through by The Wardlaw Brothers.