05/04/2026
I was reading Matthew 12:1โ14 this morning, and it grabbed me.
Jesus and His disciples are walking through a field, hungry, so they pick some grain. The Pharisees jump on it immediately... โNot lawful.โ
Then in the synagogue, thereโs a man with a shrivelled hand. This was a real person in need, but they donโt even see him. They see a chance to trap Jesus.
I could almost feel the coldness as I read the story.
And then Jesus says the line that really popped for me:
โI desire mercy, not sacrifice.โ
He desires mercy.
Itโs wild to me how we can do all the โrightโ thingsโฆ follow all the โrightโ rulesโฆ and still miss the heart of God entirely.
I had to sit with that a minute... because if Iโm honest, I could see myself in it sometimes. Not in terrible, obvious waysโฆ but in subtle ones.
So I once again asked Jesus to change my heart and make me more like Him.
Maybe youโve been there too... Focused on the task ahead instead of the person. Quick to feel justified, but slower to feel compassion. More concerned with being right than being loving. Ouch!
Hereโs where I landed today:
If your theology leads you to withhold compassionโฆ youโve misunderstood God.
Jesus doesnโt just teach compassionโHe is compassion.
He doesnโt ask, โWhatโs allowed?โ He asks, โWhat is good?โ
Personally, I donโt want to miss Him while trying to follow Him. What an epic fail that would be. LOL
I donโt want to get so caught up in doing things โrightโ that I stop loving the person right in front of me.
If this passage shows us anything, itโs this: Compassion isnโt optional. Itโs the center of everything.
So today, my prayer is simple... and if you want, you can pray it with me :)
Jesus, transform and soften my heart. Help me see people the way You do. Fill me with the Holy Spirit so that people experience your love and compassion when they encounter me. I can't do it on my own... You can do it in me. Amen!
