An Expanding Heart
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Your heart is not a fixed container, but a living, breathing landscape that can expand, contract, heal, and transform. God is inviting you to a journey of growing concern that goes far beyond personal comfort and into the deep waters of His love by allowing it to reshape your understanding of the world and your place in it. Expanding your heart requires radical dependence on God. It's acknowledging that true compassion doesn't originate from your own limited resources, but from the inexhaustible love of Christ flowing through you. Your capacity to care is directly connected to your willingness to be transformed.
Consider the intersection of your unique gifts, passions, and the world's genuine needs. Where do you feel a quiet stirring? What breaks your heart? These are not random emotions, but invitations to get curious and lean in. God doesn't call you to save the world, but to participate in His ongoing work of restoration—one faithful moment at a time. Stillness becomes your first act of rebellion against a world that constantly demands productivity. In prayer and reflection, you're not trying to illuminate yourself, but to be illuminated by Christ's perspective. You're learning to see the world through His eyes—eyes of boundless love, profound compassion, and unwavering hope.
When you encounter God's goodness, something transformative happens. Love stops being a command and becomes a gracious invitation to belong, become, and be different. Your heart begins to expand not through willpower, but through surrender. This expansion isn't comfortable. It will challenge your natural inclinations. It will push you beyond familiar boundaries. You'll be called to love boldly, serve sacrificially, and see the humanity in those society often overlooks.
Your time, talents, and resources become channels of God's loving redemption. Love is not passive. It disrupts. It challenges systems. It speaks for the voiceless. It works toward healing in broken places. But this happens not through your own strength, but through complete dependency on God's faithfulness. Your obedience becomes an expression of trust. Each small act of compassion—a listening ear, a quiet prayer, a moment of advocacy—becomes a powerful declaration of faith. You're saying, "God, I trust You to work through me, even when I feel inadequate."
Now, take some time to consider how you can make God’s love visible through your actual lived life in the days you’re given in 2025. Think of the questions below as prompts to get you started. Don’t feel the pressure to answer every one, but challenge yourself to think and consider where God is stretching you to care for the needs around you.
Where do you sense God expanding your capacity for compassion? How might your unique gifts intersect with the world's deeper needs?
What opportunities are awaiting your obedience? What could be your first step in bringing God’s goodness to these places? What would it look like to make yourself available and leverage these opportunities for good?
What small, concrete steps could you take to embody more Kingdom compassion? What would be required of you to become the kind of person for whom goodness is a way of life?
After reflecting on these questions, write out a prayer asking God to expand the size of your heart for the world around you.