The Gift of Emotions Part Two
Download MP3Welcome to a place of peace, hope, and divine encouragement. This is Joy in Every Step with your host, beloved preacher, retired teacher, and faithful through the valleys or dancing on the mountaintops, Sarita's voice will guide you back to his promises step by step. So open your heart, settle your spirit, and take the next step in faith with joy in every step.
Sarita Bernadette:Hi, I'm Sarita Bernadette and welcome back to another episode of Joy in Every Step. I'm so glad you're here. The previous episode was dedicated to the gift of emotions and we are back to talk more about that today. In that episode we established that our range of emotions has been given to us by God. He created us in His image and therefore we know that He too experiences emotions.
Sarita Bernadette:Let's talk about compassion today. Compassion. In the Word of God compassion is a deep visceral sympathy for the suffering of others. It moves on our heart. It moves on our heart so much that one wants to do something to alleviate that suffering And my friends that reflects the very character of God.
Sarita Bernadette:Exodus 3three 19 And the Lord said, I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Galatians five twenty three lists kindness as a fruit of the spirit. Kindness and compassion are very similar however you could say that compassion is felt in response to seeing someone suffering. Compassion is the feeling that moves us to show kindness.
Sarita Bernadette:Let's talk more. In Exodus 3three 19, the Lord mentioned showing mercy as a result of his graciousness. The Lord extends his unmerited kindness, favor, and compassion towards us daily. Daily, my friends. Hebrews one and three reminds us that Jesus is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being.
Sarita Bernadette:In the last episode we mentioned that Jesus showed compassion and empathy in Matthew nine thirty six and Mark six thirty four. As he went about healing the sick, he was teaching the crowds that were gathered to hear him there, and he showed compassion and empathy. In the last episode, we mentioned that Jesus showed compassion and empathy. In Matthew nine thirty six and Mark 34, as he went about healing the sick and teaching the crowds gathered to hear him. In Mark six thirty four we read, As he went to shore, he saw a great crowd and he had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd and he began to teach them many things.
Sarita Bernadette:I believe Jesus was a role model here not only for Christians in ministry but Christians in general. He saw the people without direction and he sought to give them some hope. So he fed them the Word. That's significant in itself, but he also met their physical needs in another way. When faced with huge crowds who had followed him and found themselves there with nothing to eat, Jesus felt compassion for them and performed miracles to feed them.
Sarita Bernadette:Compassion. There are two miracles recorded in the Gospels where Jesus feeds the multitudes. Let's look at the two miracles a little closer. So the feeding of the 5,000 occurs first and it's recorded in all four of the Gospels. This is the first of the two miracles and it involves Jesus and the disciples right after the martyrdom of John the Baptist.
Sarita Bernadette:In Matthew 14 verses 13 through 21 we read, Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening the disciples came to him and said this is a deserted place and the hour is now late send the crowds away so they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves. Jesus said to them they need not go away you give them something to eat.
Sarita Bernadette:They replied, We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish. Verse 18 And he said, Bring them here to me. Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples. And the disciples gave them to the crowds.
Sarita Bernadette:And all ate and were filled. And they took up what was left over of the broken pieces 12 baskets full and those who ate were about 5,000 men besides women and children. Then there's the feeding of the 4,000. It's documented in the fifteenth chapter of Matthew and also in the eighth chapter of Mark. In the fifteenth chapter of Matthew verses 32 through 38 we read, Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, I have compassion for the crowd because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.
Sarita Bernadette:And I do not want to send them away hungry for they might faint on the way. The disciples said to him where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd? Jesus asked them, How many loaves have you? They said, Seven and a few small fish. Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish and after giving thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
Sarita Bernadette:All of them ate and were filled and they took up the broken pieces left over seven baskets full. Those who had eaten were 4,000 men besides women and children. There are certainly similarities between these two miracles but they are two separate ones. The first miracle took place in Northern Galilee and involved over 5,000 people because remember they only counted the men. Jesus used two fish and five loaves of bread to feed the crowd and the leftovers filled 12 baskets.
Sarita Bernadette:This miracle is seen as providing for the Jewish people with the 12 baskets likely alluding to the 12 tribes of Israel. The second miracle took place in Southeast Galilee. On that occasion Jesus took seven loaves of bread and a few small fish to feed over 4,000 people and again they only counted them in so you know that number is likely much higher. This miracle served a Gentile crowd symbolizing God's provision for all people not just the Jews. Both miracles come from the very heart of God.
Sarita Bernadette:He has compassion for us beloved. He understands our needs and he is well able to meet them. These miracles also show us that he doesn't discriminate. The word tells us in Galatians three and twenty eight there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Romans two and eleven reads, For God shows no partiality.
Sarita Bernadette:Galatians five and fourteen reads for the whole law is summed up in a single commandment you shall love your neighbor as yourself we are all one in Christ with none better than the other and a neighbor is anyone living and breathing the good Lord's air. Period. So Jesus modeled compassion for us beloved and I know you might be saying well that was the Lord Jesus Christ he fed the multitudes twice. Well Paul encourages believers in Colossians three twelve with these words: Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Clothe yourselves, he says, meaning we should adopt these characteristics or spiritual qualities and live by them.
Sarita Bernadette:We can do it beloved. Have you ever heard the expression a little kindness goes a long way? There is so much truth in that statement. During difficult days one small act of kindness can literally change someone's whole day and brighten their outlook. Beloved, compassion shown to another human lets them know they are seen and not just by us but by God himself.
Sarita Bernadette:Ephesians four thirty two encourages believers to be kind and compassionate to one another. God uses us to spread His love. We represent Him. When we show compassion, it can have a significant and far reaching impact. Our act of kindness can inspire others to do the same.
Sarita Bernadette:One gesture can move someone else to pay it forward. It can indeed create a ripple effect. We need that today, don't we? I have found that demonstrating kindness and compassion not only lifts the receiver, it lifts the heart of the giver as well. Maybe even more!
Sarita Bernadette:You both walk away feeling joy and a sense of connection that stays with you. Speaking of connection, don't you just love hearing stories about people who experience a special and lasting connection because of an act of kindness, a show of compassion. Many strong relationships have been born from one person showing empathy or sensitivity towards another. Quick story: CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman does a series called Kindness 101. A recent story featured a 66 year old family practitioner by the name of Doctor.
Sarita Bernadette:Michael Zullicoffer. His office is located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Baltimore and he's been there for over forty years. As he was being interviewed his eyes just lit up and you could hear the passion in his voice. He loves his job. His spirit is just bubbly and effervescent.
Sarita Bernadette:The Pace mentioned how Doctor. Z as he's called has never gone on a vacation because he says his patients might need him and he wants to be available 20 fourseven. His patients have his cell phone number. Another thing stood out in the piece and that is Doctor. Z will see you whether you can pay or not.
Sarita Bernadette:No insurance? No problem. Several of his patients were interviewed and you could tell they love him just as much as he loves them. They spoke of him as though he was a part of the family. He's established himself as an integral part of the community there in Baltimore.
Sarita Bernadette:So not long ago Doctor. Z was diagnosed with two types of cancer and due to a series of unfortunate mishaps he had no insurance and he had no way to pay for his radiation treatments. Beloved, the word reminds us in Galatians six:nine, So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Enter Doctor.
Sarita Bernadette:Z's patients. They heard about the issue and crowdfunded over $100,000 A thousand people donated money to the campaign. Doctor. Z went through his treatment and his prognosis today is good. He has plans to use the extra money from the campaign in the community.
Sarita Bernadette:One of his patients said, We couldn't give up on him because he never gave up on us. The people he'd served all those years were oh so happy to do something for him in return. Doctor. Z said he wanted the nation to see his story so they could see what it looks like to give. He considers himself a rich man and I would have to agree with him.
Sarita Bernadette:What an outstanding example of compassion in that story. Beloved, compassion is a gift and when used it brings on joy and a host of other positive emotions. More specifically, when we act with compassion the brain releases chemicals that create feelings of pleasure, contentment, and serenity. These God given neurochemicals counteract stress hormones like cortisol which leads to less stress and anxiety. Lastly, compassionate behavior cultivates inner strength.
Sarita Bernadette:It builds us up and it helps to make us more resilient. So when life's challenges hit us, with God's help, we're able to cope. Beloved, I would challenge you to increase your acts of kindness and compassion in the coming days, in the coming weeks, and even in the coming months. Let's sprinkle it around like confetti. You've been listening to Joy in Every Step.
Sarita Bernadette:I'm Sarita Bernadette and I'm grateful you chose to spend some time here with me. You can find Joy in Every Step wherever you listen to your podcasts and give us a follow there. Do check out the website at joyineverystep.org.
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