Good Morning Very Valued, Compassionate Servants! You are AWESOME and very appreciated! You matter and we see you and so does God! Thank you! Your love, compassion and service really matters! Nothing is too small for God to notice and can be used to build treasure in heaven. Remember in God's economy small is BIG, slow is fast as we move with Him and do what we can with what we've been given, not for worldly recognition but to honor and glorify God. People are being drawn to Him. The church is growing as we serve compassionately and live sacrificially and love lavishly like Jesus. Yes, THANK YOU! Check out the devotionals below. What's God saying to you? He sees you, calls you by name and wants to love and help through your surrendered heart and humble service. Thank you! May you know the peace of being who you are created to be and doing what you are created to do for such a time as this, You are God's masterpiece and He loves you and is blessed by your compassionate, servant heart! Amen! rest in His love and acceptance and know how valued and needed you are. You and what you do matter and are having affect for His glory! Amen! Shalom shalom!
Our Daily Bread
The Unnamed Women
These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Luke 8:3
After wiping down tables with disinfectant, Shelia stooped to tie a garbage bag filled with used cups and plates. She heaved the bag over her shoulder and turned to survey the church’s multipurpose room. She’d volunteered to clean it for the next gathering and wanted to make sure it was ready. A thought fluttered through her mind: Would anyone notice?
It’s easy to wonder if our everyday contributions to the kingdom are valued. Whether we clean, balance spreadsheets, lead a Bible study, or give money, so many of us remain unseen in our places of service and unnamed in public commendations.
In Luke 8:1-2, the historian catalogs the faithful service of women in the ministry of Jesus. He lists three by name from among the women freed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary of Magdalene; Joanna the wife of Chuza, who managed Herod’s household; and Susanna. Then Luke says, “Many others . . . were helping to support [Jesus and His disciples] out of their own means” (v. 3). Luke spotlights these unnamed women who invested themselves in supporting the gospel, and so underlines their value.
Just as God includes unnamed women in His account of valuable contributions to His kingdom, He sees our efforts. He knows our names (John 10:3), and He sees our investment in His work (Hebrews 6:10).
By Elisa Morgan
REFLECT & PRAY
When have you felt overlooked and undervalued? How does knowing that God included unnamed women in His catalog of contributions encourage you?
Dear God, thank You that You see me, know me, and value all I give You.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Luke gives more attention to Jesus’ interactions with women than any other gospel writer. The women—both named and unnamed—mentioned in Luke 8:1-3 are one example, but others include His encounter with the widow of Nain (7:11-17), the “sinful” woman (vv. 36-50), Mary and Martha (10:38-42), a disabled woman (13:10-17), and the women who “mourned and wailed for him” prior to His crucifixion (23:27). Luke 2 also includes an extended account of Mary’s experience prior to Christ’s birth. In the ancient world, women were often undervalued or devalued, but Jesus elevated their status by showing great care for them. This can remind us that when we feel undervalued and overlooked by others, we can be assured that we’re valued by God. He sees and knows all that we do in His name.
Bill Crowder
Upper Room: Compassion
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. - Matthew 14:14 (NIV)
When reading the familiar story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, we may be in such a hurry to take notice of Jesus’ miracle that we miss an important detail: Jesus had compassion for others at a time when he needed compassion from others. Jesus had decided to spend time with his disciples away from the crowd after he learned that John the Baptist had been beheaded. But the crowd followed Jesus and was waiting for him when he stepped out of the boat. If I had been in Jesus’ shoes, I might have complained about the crowd or angrily demanded that they leave. But instead, “when Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them.”
Jesus had compassion on the crowd even though he had just learned about his cousin’s death and was hoping to spend some quiet time alone. But Jesus showed us that we can offer compassion in all circumstances. Even when we are going through troubles of our own, may we imitate our Lord’s example and have compassion on others.
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's Prayer
God of compassion, in our world filled with people who are hurting and in need, help us always to imitate our compassionate Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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