All My Guts
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had COMPASSION on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:35-38
Insight
If Hallmark cards were around in ancient Greece, there wouldn't be adorable pictures of hearts on those love notes, but instead there would be pictures of someone's intestines with a squeamish inscription like, "I love you with all my guts." Of course, I don't envision those cards flying off the shelves now, but back then, people believed that love and compassion lived in the gut, not the heart. To them, their emotions and feelings resided in their tummy.
Yet, we also understand how our emotions and guts are connected. For example, when we see that special someone, the excitement causes our stomachs to flip flop; we feel butterflies. On the flip side, we can worry ourselves sick while stress can churn our stomachs. Those gut feelings, both the good and bad, can direct our eyes, stir our hearts, and influence our feet and how we respond.
Scripture follows suit in locating our emotions in the gut. The word used in the Bible to describe compassion is "splagchnizomai." Speaking of body parts, trying to say that three times will inevitably get you tongue-tied. But, I digress. This word refers to a strong emotion that someone feels deep in their insides—to be moved so that it causes an intuitive reaction of love, compassion, and empathy.
“Splagchnizomai” is what Jesus felt when He scanned the crowd and saw their needs in Matthew 9. Encountering this helpless hoard of humanity moved Jesus. He felt compassion, not at a surface or superficial level, but resounding inside His core.
It was “splagchnizomai” that led the Good Samaritan to cross the road and love his neighbor and what drove the father to embrace his prodigal son. God's compassion for us runs just as deep, and this love should fuel our love for those around us.
Being moved with compassion always leads in the direction of others. We need to see people the way Jesus saw them and feel the same level of compassion that Jesus displayed.
We see people who might not look like us, think like us, behave like us, or believe like us and we respond to them with gut-level love. We look at the world's brokenness not with bitterness, judgment, anger, or irritation but with compassion that compels us to humble action. Loving others takes guts.
Reflection
Where do you need to be reminded that loving others takes "guts"? Why did that relationship come to mind?
Prayer
God, may I respond to the needs of those around me not with indifference, apathy, or disregard but with compassionate love. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. May an encounter with Your love move me in such a way that it gets displayed in my connection with others. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.