Welles Crowther was an equities trader and a volunteer firefighter. He led a normal life, but as it did for most of the United States, everything changed for him on September 11th, 2001. Flight 175 hit the World Trade Center’s South Tower. Those stuck on the 78th-floor sky lobby sat scared and confused until a man with a red bandana covering his nose and his mouth seemed to appear out of the smoke; it was Crowther. He guided them all to an available stairway, ensuring their safety. Then he went back in. He made three total trips to the sky lobby and saved eighteen lives before the building collapsed on top of him. His red bandana is still on display in the 9/11 museum in New York City. At times, a swell of compassion moves human beings to do remarkable things. The final chapter of the book of Jonah sees God’s compassionate heart for the Ninevites.

​

A large portion of one of the most evil cities on the planet has just repented and believed in the one true God, but Jonah is furious. We finally get some honesty from him when we learn that this was the reason he fled in the first place. He hoped the Ninevites would be destroyed. He returns to death wishes, and God decides to teach him a lesson. We see the swing of Jonah’s emotions as he moves from being very happy about his shade plant to very angry about it dying. The text tells us he begged with all his soul to die. Jonah’s heart was hardened, he was committed only to love those he considered worthy of love. If ever you find yourself angry over a great move of God, it’s time to evaluate your heart. God, on the other hand, was broken by the lostness of the city—a city of more than 120,000 people who could not distinguish their left from their right. In Matthew 9, Jesus looked out at the crowds and felt compassion. In their lostness, he saw them as sheep without a shepherd. It is in this context that we receive a well-known verse, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.” (Matt. 9:37) Will you join in God’s harvest? A compassionate heart is a prerequisite to fruitfulness because God is harvesting souls. Does your heart match the heart of God today?

“Compassion is the sweetness of the soul, a virtue by which the heart is softened toward the suffering of others.” – Thomas á Kempis

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1. Is there a sin I need to confess or an attitude I need to change?

2. Is there a command I need to obey or an example I need to follow?

3. Does this verse teach me something about God? About myself?