Today’s Devotional Scripture:
“...who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.”
-Hebrews 5:2 KJV
The Message for Today (August 15, 2026):
There is a massive homeless problem where I live.
Drive anywhere, and you’ll see them, pushing carts, shouting at the air, or begging for money.
In such an environment, it can be easy to become calloused to the cries of the needy.
After all, there have been many stories about people pretending to be homeless in order to swindle others out of their money.
Other homeless people act in ways which endanger themselves and others, often addicted to drugs.
Yet, God reminds us He has compassion on all. He understands what it is like to be homeless. After all, Jesus didn’t truly have a home when he was preaching and doing ministry, instead relying on the hospitality of others. He even said he was unwelcome in his hometown (Luke 4:24).
Jesus knew what it was like to be hungry, uncertain of where to sleep, and probably had worn clothing. Because of these years of need, he had compassion on others in these situations, as this verse points out. The verse also applies to having compassion on those struggling with sin, which Jesus does.
So when it comes to the homeless, we can know Jesus would have had compassion on them.
This doesn’t mean that he would help them all.
Consider the blind man at the pool of Shalom. Many who came to that pool were blind and sick, yet Jesus didn’t heal all of them. He healed one man for a purpose (John 9:1-11). A similar event happens with the paralytic lowered from the roof. At first, Jesus doesn’t heal him, but instead, forgives his sins. It is only after the Pharisees confront him that he heals him, so that others might believe (Matthew 9:1–8, Mark 2:1–12, and Luke 5:17–26). Yes, there were days when Jesus healed many. But even he could not reach everyone in the entire world when he lived in Israel.
Jesus had compassion on the poor and downtrodden, and so should we. But that doesn’t mean allowing swindlers to take advantage of us or giving money to everyone who asks. Instead, pray the Holy Spirit leads you in who to give money to and who to provide for.
Personally, I have done this and found the Lord led me to give food to several homeless people. I don’t give to everyone, but to who God leads. I pray for compassion and ask for his forgiveness when I grow callous. So, when you see a homeless person in your area, consider what you should or should not do, but always keep compassion in your heart.
Closing Devotional Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help me to do what is right when it comes to the homeless. It can be hard to have compassion on someone who seems undeserving on the surface. But you remind me that I, too, am undeserving. So, my priest, guide my heart and my actions to show compassion to others. In Your Son’s Name, Amen
