See people and be moved

"The Gathering" in Jacksonville

This week I wanted to share a few points from one of the speakers at the Gathering. Keith Loy is the lead pastor of Celebrate Church (Wesleyan) in Sioux Falls, S.D. Keith has a passion for ministry and when he spoke that passion was communicated.

Matthew 9:35-38: Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Keith points out: Jesus saw people, Jesus had compassion, and Jesus met the need. 

How many times do we attend church on Sunday morning, leave, and never apply the message?  This message hit me and I wanted to share it with you.

Matthew 9:35-38 reminds us that the church is about people.  God wants us to partner with him in our communities and see the people who God sees.  Jesus saw the crowds and immediately felt compassion.  We see people all the time, everywhere we go and most of the time there is not a response.  Some of us have been trained to focus only on our own needs and our own responsibilities.  We are so consumed with our own situation that when it comes to others we are without strength or motivation.

Believe it or not people, Christian and non-Christian, matter to God.  Jesus saw the crowds and something moved inside him.  When was the last time you saw the crowds and something moved within you?

The “Gathering” is all about people.  We want to see the people around our community and we want to partner with God.  We want to “gather” together so we can “scatter” into our respective jobs and communities.  We want to share the hope of Christ wherever we go. 

My prayer is that we can all see people and be moved.  But more than being moved we need to take action.  Jesus saw the crowds, had compassion, and then met the need.  My prayer is that we can all find ways to meet the needs (spiritual, physical, and emotional) of those around us.   

Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear what is going on around us.

Continue to pray for us as we plan and prepare for the church in Wesley Chapel.