Living in Southern California, we don’t get to see a lot of sheep or shepherds but most of us know enough to understand the important role shepherds play in the life of a sheep. They provide care, protection, provisions, and account for every member of the flock. What we do see however are many people struggling to navigate the complexities of the ever-changing world around us and who are in need of help. They are lost sheep in need of a shepherd.

Lostness is not always pretty. It leads to disorientation, chaos, fear, doubt, anxiety, and a whole other host of sin and brokenness. Often our tendency can be to see the brokenness in others and want to avoid it because it is messy and inconvenient. Jesus saw the brokenness around Him, and it moved Him toward compassion, toward the brokenness.  As the Great Shepherd, he also knew that there is a real Enemy who is the one doing the harassing.

Jesus calls each of us to follow in His footsteps. To co-labor with Christ in pouring out compassion onto a world that is in great need of a Shepherd. The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few!

What would it look like for you to move more toward the ‘lost sheep’ around you? 

Pray that God would give you eyes to see those who are being harassed and who are helpless and that you too would be moved with compassion.