Blog

Cages or Compassion

Cages or Compassion: What Love Really Looks Like

Cages or Compassion: What Love Really Looks Like

True Story (2023):
A group of activists staged a protest outside a migrant housing site in Texas. They held signs and livestreamed themselves shouting about injustice. But nearby, an elderly migrant woman fainted from the heat. None of the protestors noticed. Instead, a local landscaper gave her water and stayed with her until medics arrived. No cameras. No crowd. Just quiet compassion.

Scripture (MEV):
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men to be seen by them; otherwise, you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”
— Matthew 6:1
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him…”
— Luke 10:33
Reflection:

There’s a lot of noise right now about what words we should use: Is it a cage? A unit? A room?
But Jesus calls us to focus not on labels, but on love.

In Matthew 6, Jesus warns about doing good just to be seen. And in Luke 10, He shows that the religious leaders walked around the man in need, while the Samaritan — someone rejected by society — actually showed mercy.

The question isn’t: Did you speak the loudest?
It’s: Did you stop and help?

Real-World Tie-In: Alligator Alcatraz

We’ve seen it happen at Alligator Alcatraz — a facility created to protect and rehabilitate human trafficking survivors and wildlife alike. Some people online are shouting about the use of the word “cage” — sparking outrage based on phrasing, not facts. Yet video tours show spacious temporary housing, clean facilities, and even volunteers providing food and care.

The louder question should be: Who’s actually helping?

Are we praying for the staff? Donating clean clothes? Supporting the mission? Or just repeating hashtags without lifting a hand?

You can call it a “cage” or a “room” — but if you’re not showing up with compassion, what are you really doing?

See the truth for yourself: #RealVideoInsideAlcatraz #LiveInsideAlcatraz #AlligatorAlcatrazRealFootage

Challenge Questions:
  • Am I more concerned with how things look, or how people feel?
  • Do I love loudly in front of others, or quietly behind the scenes?
  • Who has God placed near me that needs compassion — not commentary?
Closing Prayer:

Lord, help me care more about compassion than credit. Help me not to be like the priest or the Levite — walking by with opinions but no action. Make me more like the Samaritan, and more like You. Give me the eyes to see pain, the heart to care, and the courage to help. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A 15-minute devotion written to reflect the heart of Matthew 6 and Luke 10 (MEV).

Tags: , , ,

Eric F Gilbert

Eric F Gilbert is a multi-disciplinary entrepreneur, author, and marketing strategist dedicated to exposing the myths of modern digital growth. As the author of "They Lied About SEO," he provides small business owners with a no-nonsense roadmap to building genuine online authority and search visibility in the age of AI. With a career spanning business ownership, day trading, and professional consulting, Eric’s insights are rooted in real-world results rather than theoretical agency jargon. Beyond the boardroom, he is a published author in fiction and faith, an outdoorsman sharing years of Gulf Coast expertise in "Fishing the Waters of Tampa Bay," and a mental health advocate through his work, "Mind is the Matter". Eric lives and works in Florida, where he continues to build systems that help businesses and individuals move from "stuck" to "scaling".

Leave a Reply