The Solution to the Confusion
Have you noticed that although we’ve seen massive changes around the planet this last year, there are some things that never change?
I was reading through Matthew’s gospel recently and came across a powerful connection that Jesus saw in the people of his day, that I see happening around our world today.
Jesus was doing incredible things: healing those with incurable diseases, giving sight to the blind, bringing the dead back to life. Huge crowds followed him from place to place. Whatever the need was, Jesus was the answer.
But at one point, Jesus paused to reflect on the depth of the real issue. Here is how Matthew described it:
35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” —Matthew 9:35–38
What stood out to me was that his compassion was stirred because they were “confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” I have never owned sheep. And I have never personally observed how sheep respond when the shepherd isn’t present. But I know what it feels like to be alone, anxious, confused and helpless. He said they were:
Confused and helpless
Ever felt like that? Confused? Helpless?
I can’t think of a better way to describe our time. This past year of the pandemic has been both bewildering and paralyzing.
While we expected clarity from our health professionals, it turns out that we are all learning about the effects of Covid-19 in real time.
And, because of the confusion, we sense a kind of powerlessness.
In that moment, he gives his followers the solution to this disorienting confusion and helplessness. He says:
“The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
The solution, Jesus says, is to ask God to activate those who have a part in his mission.
That would be us. Both as pray-ers and harvesters.
But notice this: instead of just telling his disciples to jump in, Jesus tells them to pray for more who will come around them to be part of His agenda for the world.
God’s heart is to deliver us from our hopeless and helpless condition, into Jesus’ herd—his family—his kingdom.
The truth is, trying to make sense of life without God is a confusing and helpless proposition at best.
The answer to the confusion and helplessness in our time isn’t a political solution; it’s not a sociological or technological solution. The answer is the same as its been for 2,000 years. It is Christ.
Jesus tells us that God’s plan begins with prayer, and then it continues by being part of God’s harvest team…because the harvest is great.
Political agendas come and go. Sports seasons come and go. Hobbies come and go. But, there is one thing that never changes: the deepest cries of the human heart. Only the indwelling Christ can deal with those deepest needs.
And that is why CenterPoint exists. This year, we are refocusing on this vision. That we would have the compassion of Christ to come around those who are harassed and helpless—like sheep without the Great Shepherd. Without Jesus.
Take a moment today to ask your Heavenly Father to send out laborers into Tacoma. And as you do, would you refocus your heart? Allow his Spirit to blow away the fog of confusion, knowing that the answer our world is looking for—ultimately—is Christ.
Then, I would love to hear what God puts on your heart to be part of his harvest. Looking forward to what God will be doing in Tacoma in 2023.
Bill Herried is lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma, Washington. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon. He is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren and loves a good biryani. You can learn more about Bill on his blog, Your Daily Encouragement
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