When Jesus went to visit the village of Nain, a funeral procession was coming out as he was approaching the village gate. The person who had died was a young man who was the only son of a widow. The widow was heartbroken because her only son was now dead. When Jesus saw her, his heart was filled with compassion and he said, “Don’t cry!” After he said this, he walked towards the coffin and touched it, and he told the boy to get up. Immediately, the boy sat up and started talking, and Jesus took the boy to his mother.

Our God is a compassionate and loving God, and He doesn’t want us to be sad or to suffer. Just as Jesus had compassion for the widow whose son died, He also has compassion for us. And because of His great love for us, he wants to forgive us and cleanse us of our sins so that we can be united with Him. The only reason why we suffer is because of sin, which is why He promises to return one day to save all His children and take them to live with Him in perfection for eternity. Because Christ is our example that we should follow, God calls us to be compassionate to others just as He is to us (Luke 6:36). And because he loves us, he calls us to love others as well (1 John 4:19).

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for being loving and compassionate. Thank you for always forgiving me no matter what and for promising to come back one day to take us to our eternal home. Please teach me to forgive others just as You forgave me, and please help me to be loving and compassionate to everyone around me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

1.    Luke 7:13 (NLT).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Gianna B.