Revcort's Ramblings

Scripture Focus
“But when he heard it, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.’… When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” – Matthew 9:12, 36 (ESV)

Devotional Thought
The heart of Jesus shines through in these verses. When the religious leaders questioned why He would sit down and eat with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus replied with a simple yet profound truth: it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. He did not come for those who think they are righteous, but for those who know they are broken.

Later, when He looked at the crowds, He saw them with eyes of compassion. They were weary, wandering, and vulnerable—sheep without a shepherd. He did not look at them with disdain or disgust. He did not dismiss them as hopeless. Instead, His heart moved toward them with mercy and grace.

That truth convicts us. How often do we, as believers, look at sinners with contempt rather than compassion? How quickly do we judge rather than extend mercy? The attitude of Christ toward the lost was never one of disgust but of deep compassion. He saw people for what they truly were: souls in need of healing, guidance, and hope.

If we are to reflect Christ, then our eyes and hearts must change. We need to see those far from God not as nuisances, enemies, or hopeless cases, but as sheep in desperate need of a Shepherd—just as we once were. Only then will we treat them with the love and patience that points them toward the Great Physician who alone can heal the soul.

Reflection Questions

1. When you think of people far from God, what is your natural attitude—judgment or compassion?
2. How can you begin to see sinners not as enemies, but as the very mission field Jesus has called you to?
3. What step could you take this week to show compassion rather than criticism?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I have looked at sinners with contempt instead of compassion. Remind me of Your mercy toward me and soften my heart toward others. Teach me to see people as You see them—broken, hurting, and in need of a Shepherd. Make me an instrument of Your grace, and help me to point the lost to You, the Great Physician of souls. Amen.