Confused & Helpless

[cmc]

July 24, 2008
Key Passage: Matthew 9:35-38
Topic: Hope; Service/Servanthood
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36, ESV)

When you travel, you begin to notice the world beyond your doorstep. Just sit at an airport or on a train for a while and watch. You'll see people who are happy, sad, empty, lost, hopeful, devastated, anxious, determined, driven, careless or tired. People who are beaten down by life, those on their way up, and others just trying to survive.

Jesus saw these people too. He'd been traveling around teaching and proclaiming the Good News. But when He looks at the people, He sees their lives written on their faces…and He's moved with compassion.

Jesus had a genuine understanding and sympathy with people's needs. He wanted to give them mercy, not judgment. And He looked beneath the surface to the deepest corners of their hearts. He saw that they were "confused and helpless."

Then He turns to His disciples and challenges them to see the real needs of hurting people. They have an opportunity to serve God--just like we do--to be shepherds for the sheep, to extend compassion to the helpless and hope to the confused.

Have you ever looked at the people around you, friends and strangers alike, and been moved by their needs? Have their needs stirred compassion in your heart?

Jesus tells us to pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest (Matthew 9:38) to send more workers, people like you and me who are willing to serve others with help, direction and mercy.

Look around, and you'll quickly see your opportunities to show compassion to those in need in your home, your neighborhood, your community, even beyond your borders. Are you moved to meet their needs with Jesus' help?



NotReligion
NotReligion - Home

[suki44883]

That reminds me of the signature one of the posters has...can't remember who. It says something to the effect of...Be kind to others because everyone is struggling with someting. Nice post.

[IO Storm]

Thanks cmc...

Since I came to the Lord and was "recovered"....He immediately began to deal

with me to give out of whatever I had. I had a compassion for the needy

I never knew even as a social worker. And no matter what I gave...I always

have more in my purse than before...

It's true. Here are some of my favorite verses about caring for the less

fortunate...


FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT:

If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

- Isaiah 58:6,10 NSRV

God always keeps His promises; he judges in favor of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

-Psalm 146:6-7 TEV

Happy are those who are concerned for the poor; the Lord will help them when they are in trouble.

-Psalm 41:1 TEV

When you gather your crops and fail to bring in some of the grain that you have cut, do not go back for it; for it is to be left for the foreigners, orphans and widows...When you have gathered your grapes once, do not go back over the vines a second time; the grapes that are left are for the foreigners, orphans and widows. Never forget that you were slaves in Egypt; that is why I have given you this command.

-Deuteronomy 24:19-22 TEV

If you refuse to listen to the cry of the poor, your own cry will not be heard.

-Proverbs 21:13 TEV

Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Defend the rights of the poor and needy.

-Proverbs 31:8-9 NSRV

Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

-Isaiah 1:17

A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

-Proverbs 22:9

He has told you, ‘O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?’
-Micah 6:8

...do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor...

-Zechariah 7:10 RSV

He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and he will repay him for his deed.

-Proverbs 19:17


FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT:

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left. Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'

Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'”

-Matthew 25:31-40 NLT

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has not works, is dead.

-James 2:14-17 NRSV

Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.

-James 1:27 NLT

Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need.

-Ephesians 4:28 NLT

Jesus said to him "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

-Matthew 19:21 RSV

"But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

-Luke 14:13 RSV

"Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

-1 Timothy 6:18-19

"Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."

-Luke 18:22 KJV

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.

-3 John 1:5