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Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35 WEB

When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them for they were lost and helpless. The words 'harassed and scattered' literally mean 'torn and thrown down.' Jesus saw the people as unprotected sheep wandering about and being easy prey for predators.

Jesus would stop and take the time to teach and heal them. He cared and He said several times in His teachings that He was The Good Shepherd, and that He came to seek and save the lost sheep (John 10:11, Luke 15:6, Luke 19:10).

Cold hearted people can make you feel unwelcome, even in what they call 'The house of God.' They threw Jesus out of their temple after He preached to them: 'So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple' (John 8:59).

They did not like it when Jesus had lunch with sinners either, but He did it anyway: 'The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?' (Mark 2:16). The cold religious people stood outside watching Jesus have dinner with the sinners, instead of them.

The religious elite called Jesus 'A drunkard and a glutton, a friend of tax collectors and sinners' (Mark 2:16). I thank God that Jesus was and still is, a friend of sinners like me.

Don't ever let cold, negative people, influence your view of Jesus for you are always welcome in His house. Jesus came to seek and save the lost like us, and He is always glad to see us. We need to ask ourselves, 'Which group are we in today? The cold and exclusive, or the warm and welcoming.' The Bible is very clear which side Jesus was on.

Jesus is still the good Shepherd. If you are wandering through life today and feel a bit lost, look to Jesus who is just a prayer away as He is already seeking you out. He is a friend that is closer than a brother. Jesus loves you, but sometimes His followers struggle to represent Him correctly. Let us do better.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to redeem me. I accept Your wonderful gift of eternal life and pray that You lead me from this day forward. Speak to me in a way that I understand and let me see the world through Your eyes, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.