Read: Matthew 9:27-38
When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (v. 36)
We are lost without Christ. When sin was introduced into the world, all people lost their peace and joy. This was because they lost the identity that God created and intended for them. In today’s reading, Jesus describes the people he saw with such compassion: “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” to guide and protect them (v. 36).
Do you feel like one of those sheep? And do you feel the compassion that Jesus felt for the people around you? When you share and give witness about the love, hope, and joy that Christ gives, you are directing your listeners toward their truest identity. Jesus told his disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Peter preached about Jesus this way: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ is the only way to bridge the gap between man and God. Without him, people cannot know God and have hope for eternal life. If you feel harassed and helpless, turn to Jesus. And if Jesus has found you already, share that same hope with the harassed and helpless people around you today.
As you pray, ask God to give you the boldness to be a witness to the lost in our society.
Rev. Titus Baraka is the executive director of Words of Hope Uganda. With more than forty years of experience as an evangelistic preacher and pastor, he is passionate about sharing the gospel.
Through radio programs of all types, from music, to Bible studies, to counseling, Words of Hope Uganda is claiming all assets of Ugandan society and culture for Christ. Words of Hope is empowering Ugandan pastors and churches to effectively nurture their people in the life of Christian discipleship. In the midst of this hard place, radio is bringing truly life-changing good news. To learn more about Words of Hope Uganda, visit our ministry pages.
