A World Without a Shepherd
by Larry Leming, Missions Ministries Director
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23, NIV)
What a beautiful passage of scripture and what a comforting thought to know that we have such a compassionate shepherd watching out for us. He is our shepherd and he leads us down the paths that are best for us. What a peaceful feeling to think of being in lush, green pastures and to sit and rest beside the quiet, flowing waters. And how many times have we all felt like we had gone as far as we could go, only to be led to that place of restoration by our loving shepherd. Indeed, we are a blessed people!!!! We should be such a thankful people for the blessings we have been given; thankful, but not complacent. If we are not careful, in our thankfulness at having the good shepherd, we simply become complacent and rest in that thought, without looking through His eyes at the world around us!!!
Matthew 9:36 (NIV) tells us “When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
While we are resting and trusting in our good shepherd, there is a world of hurting, lonely people just outside our door, yearning and crying out for such a person in their lives. So many all around us do not know the good shepherd, they simply know a life of emptiness and pain. It should not be so!!! I sat last night, listening to a mission team volunteer speak through her tears of a young mother she had met in one of our area apartment complexes. She told of this woman who had become angry over a daughter’s illness, her loss of job during this time and other effects of this situation. She had totally shut God from her life and her cup was empty. She could not see the hand of the shepherd in her or her daughter’s life. Another volunteer told of walking three very small children home after their evening camp, and being shocked at the refusal of their mom to let them in the house.
Again, there is a world of hurting people living right beside of us. They need to know of the goodness and mercy that can follow them all the days of their lives and they need to know that the door to the shepherd’s house is open and He desires for them to dwell with Him forever. Romans 10:14 states, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” We are the hands, feet and mouthpiece of the shepherd. May we see our neighbors and our world through His eyes of compassion!!!
