"Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd." Matthew 9:36, NAS95.

This past weekend we talked about the Lord's call on each of our lives to make a difference in the world. We know our destiny as God's children is to be people who change the world or at least somebody's world. The message surrounded one simple question. "When we look out on our world, what moves our heart?"

The difficult part of living in our age is the quick access to a lot of pain. Our televisions show images day and night of tragic circumstances, war, famine, and unspeakable atrocities. It is easy for us to become numb to the reality of the need around us. Instead of dropping to our knees and crying out for God's mercy we simply turn the channel and go on with our life. What if those images were there to stir our hearts to prayer and action? What if the news we hear about throughout the day broke our hearts and called us to God's purpose for our lives?

We really do not have to go very far to see hurting people. We just need the eyes of Jesus. In the verse above, it says, "...Seeing the people..." There are two words for seeing used in the bible. One is to see with our eyes and one is to see with our heart. This verse uses the heart. If we only see with our eyes, we can quickly turn away, but when we see with our heart, we are filled with the same emotions God feels for each person.

I want to challenge us all to slow down and see with our hearts the needs around us. Your family members need a touch, a word, and a prayer. Your co-workers need an ear and a heart willing to encourage and invest in them. Those we interact with each day are the ones the Lord is calling to touch.

Let me leave you with this:

"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." Acts 10:38 NAS95.

Let's be Jesus to our world today!