“Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.’” Matthew 15:32 ESV
One of the many attributes of God- compassion. The people were hungry. And He had compassion on them. How practical! He had already been teaching them and healing them. And now because of His compassionate understanding of their growling stomachs, He was about to feed them.
It was one more way that Jesus demonstrated His love for the people. This month when there is a focus on giving thanks, we can add this to the reasons we thank God. He has compassion on us.
“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:1-3 ESV
As we give thanks to God for His compassion, His strength, His salvation (and so much more!) we can join with Paul in his prayer:
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 ESV
