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Isaiah 40:11
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
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December 16
The Compassion of Christ
One of the first songs many children learn in
Sunday school is "Jesus Loves Me." This
song is simple but contains a very important
truth - Jesus loves us. This love is a
tender and compassionate love, just as a child
needs and expects from his or her parents.
Sheep are almost completely dependant upon their
shepherd. They easily go astray and get
lost without someone to guide them. Isaiah
53:6 tells us that "we all, like sheep, have
gone astray." When we wander off, we need
to be gently brought back onto the right path.
There are times when compassion is not the best
option - see the zealousness
of Christ for an example - but it is
certainly a preferable option. Only when
compassion is continually rejected is another
method needed to bring a person back into the
flock.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. What He does
is always in the best interest of His sheep.
It is why He gave up His life. Without His
sacrifice, there would be no forgiveness of
sins. Because of Christ's compassion
though, He has done everything for our
redemption. |
