The first adjective God uses for himself is that he is compassionate.

Compassionate.

So you see, there's no growing up in Christ's likeness without the absolute priority of compassion.

And I mean deep compassion.

And it's a scary thing to pray for.

You know why?

Because compassion hurts.

Because we're coming in, that compassion,

that CO on the front of it,

means to enter in and to feel it with them.

I'm going to enter in to their passion.

All right. Do you remember that he's just described the people around him as sheep without a shepherd?

They're distressed, they're dejected.

It's a word that also means oppressed and harassed.

Ask his disciples to pray.

Pray that God will add workers to the kingdom work.

But then do you remember with me in verse 5 of chapter 10,

he says to the 12, after giving the story,

don't take the road that leads to the Gentiles

and don't enter any Samaritan town.

Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,

and as you go proclaim,

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