“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.” (Matthew 9:35)

“‘Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:19)

Jesus isn’t going to ask us to do something He hasn’t already done. Jesus went, He traveled. In fact, the act of taking on a human form—even coming as a baby—is going further than any of us are even capable of going. He not only left paradise and came as a baby, but He paid the ultimate price on the cross for our sins. We are called to go and make disciples and we need to remember that Jesus has already gone ahead of us and He will always be with us.

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36)

Have you ever encountered someone who was confused and helpless? Maybe it wasn’t in an obvious way, but perhaps you were able to get a conversation going or through their own words or actions it became clear that they were confused about our faith. It happens to a lot of people in today’s world when the message of the Scripture doesn’t match up with the behavior of Christians or the teachings of pastors. Jesus saw that these people were confused and helpless and He had compassion on them. Treat those kinds of people with compassion as Jesus did, not with condemnation or consternation.

He said to his disciples, ‘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.’” (Matthew 9:37-38)

Are you counted among those few workers? Jesus’ last command to His followers before He ascended into heaven was to go and make disciples and teach them to obey all of His commands. Jesus has already declared that we are the workers and He has told us that the harvest is great. Are you harvesting? If not, are you praying that God would send more workers? The harvest is great; there are many people who are like sheep without a shepherd, so let’s get out there and guide them with compassion to their Shepherd.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.