Today I was traveling most of the day. Started by getting into Dallas about 1:00am then off to Minneapolis in the afternoon and ended up in Toronto, Canada (Don't-cha know) tonight. Besides being vividly reminded why I don't travel for a living I was also struck by the countless faces I saw. Empty, stressed, bewildered, disillusioned, tearful, & sorrowful. There were a few happy faces also but clearly the non-joyful faces outnumbered the broken faces 100 to 1.

Going through the series "Walking As Jesus Walked" has made me wonder "Am I saying what He would say; doing what He would do; going where He would go; thinking what He would think, and seeing things the way He would. The masses of people at the airports made me wonder if I was seeing as Jesus saw...Matthew 9:36 records Jesus' reaction when He saw the crowds just like I did at the various airports. But did I see them the way He did?!?!

"Seeing the people, He (Jesus) felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd."

Sadly, most of us (including me) are much too busy to even notice people let alone begin to invest in their lives by showing them the grace of God and telling them about Jesus. Immediately after He saw the crowds as distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd He went into action.

First, we can't miss the imagery. The sheep (people) He is seeing are at the end of their rope. They are without somebody to protect them from enemies; without somebody to lead them to clean water; without somebody to lead them to food; without somebody who genuinely cares about them and for them. And that's exactly what I saw at the airport...people lost, alone, desperate, bewildered, hopeless.

So what did Jesus do? His compassion for the broken and weary compelled Him to call those who knew the Great Shepherd and He commissioned them into the world to reach the hurting. He doesn't need our brains or intellect. He doesn't need our whit and humor. He doesn't need our fame or popularity. He doesn't even need us to memorize the "Roman Road" or any other tract. All He wants from us is to be willing to go and open our mouths when His Spirit moves us to (Matthew 10:16-20).

What a day!

Dear Father, thank you for opening our eyes to see people as you see people. Please keep us from selfish pride and unbelief that keeps us from telling others of You. Please give us compassionate hearts that ache for people like Jesus did. As we go, wherever we go, compel us Father to tell people about the Great Shepherd that died so that we might live. All to your glory, honor, and praise! Thank You Father. You are magnificent!!! In Jesus Name, Amen!

His Kingdom Come,
Skip