Matthew 9:35–10:15
Be Still: Lord, please speak to us as we spend time meditating on these verses, individually and as your body, the Church. Amen.
Read: Matthew 9:35–10:15
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ’The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ (9:35-38)
Encounter: Are there places in a city you prefer not to go? Maybe fearing for your safety, or finding crowded places increase negative emotions like unease, guilt and even despair. People in the streets seem weighed down by illness, poverty, political unrest, racial tensions and uncertainty. As in Jesus' day, they’re ‘harassed and helpless’. Recently I’ve been struck by ‘harassed and helpless’ crowds on world news, some mourning, but others full of hate. Do you see these things and want to turn away?
What is Jesus’ response to the crowds? Does he shut himself off from them or turn a blind eye? No. Firstly, he allows himself the space to feel a deep, gut-level compassion. Secondly, he turns to prayer for help.
In John 10, Jesus says ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.... I lay down my life for the sheep.’ (vv14-15) Jesus is the answer to the helplessness of these people; but he needs ‘workers’ to spread this message of hope. The Son of God knew that, while he was the answer for lost people, it would be a team effort. He allows space for his feelings but doesn’t give in to despair and neither should we. We are hope-bearers for a broken world. What does this mean for us?
Apply: Firstly, corporately or privately, lament is part of sharing God’s sadness at a broken world. We must never become so hardened that we can’t feel compassion. Choose one or two items of news or a person or group that you have encountered recently and take time to bring their pain or helplessness before God.
Secondly, turn lament to supplication. Ask God for more workers in the field to expand his kingdom of hope.
Finally, think about how you can be a worker in the harvest. Where are you placed to make a difference? Who can you contend for in prayer and action?
Devote: Jesus, we, your Church, long to see revival. We cry out to you to bring your kingdom to the sheep without a shepherd. Help us to be the workers in words and actions.