When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Matthew 9:36-38
Thinking about Jesus being our Shepherd is such a comforting thought. He leads us to restful places, He feeds us, He provides for us, He protects us, He tends to and heals our wounds, He carries us when we’re weak, and He revives us when we’re weary. So I wonder why we don’t take more opportunity to see those that are struggling through this life and introducing them to our amazing, loving, kind, gentle and healing Shepherd? Could it be because we don’t see Him like that? Or maybe it’s because we don’t see others as our Shepherd does?
Whatever the answers to those questions, the bottom line is when Jesus saw people struggling through this life and living destructive decision to another His heart was full of compassion and wanted to help them. When we think of revival, we don’t often think that one of things that Holy Spirit is reviving in us is compassion. Instead of seeing the sin, we begin to the people that are being destroyed by its grip on them. Instead of being judgmental and adding to the wounding, we want to help them find the same love and compassion we’ve found. Sharing with them the grace that forgives to the utter most and leads to salvation and transformation of their hearts and minds.
I think it’s interesting how Matthew takes us from showing Jesus as the Good Shepherd to us needing to pray and ask for more workers who are willing to go minister to these lost sheep. May we begin to see that true revival isn’t about us, but about what God is doing in us so He can work through us to show His heart of love and compassion for this dark and dying world.
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