seeing

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

— Matthew 9:36 (NIV)
 
I have always been one to take notes during sermons. It helps me retain what the message was about, and sometimes the preacher says words that really hit me hard. This week, those words were: “We never reach who we cannot see.”
That sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly challenging. Life moves fast. Schedules fill up. Minds stay busy. Before we know it, we’re moving through our days with our eyes fixed straight ahead—getting from one thing to the next—without really noticing the people around us.
Yet Scripture tells us that Jesus saw.
He didn’t just notice crowds; He saw individuals. He looked past faces and into hearts. And when He saw them, He was moved with compassion—not annoyance, not indifference, but love.
Awareness is the first step of compassion. When we slow down enough to see people, we begin to recognize their needs, their burdens, their quiet hurts. Presence opens the door for connection. And connection creates space for the Gospel to be lived, not just spoken.
Sometimes reaching someone doesn’t start with words at all. It starts with a pause. A look. A willingness to be fully present in the moment God has placed us in.
The world is full of people longing to be seen.
And God often chooses to reach them through us—if we’re willing to lift our eyes.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible