Step 1: We admitted that we were powerless over our dependencies-that our life had become unmanageable.
January 15, 2007
When he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:37 NLT
When I was a kid (with three younger brothers) we used to get kind of wild. Every night after dinner, our parents would drink coffee and eat dessert and we’d run upstairs to our rooms to play. It usually got loud and rough and resulted in injury. So a tradition began. As the noise escalated and the chandelier shook, my dad would begin speaking, then hollering, “Don’t make me come up there!” Finally, the chaos would result in my dad coming up and intervening.
That’s what shepherds do – they intervene. Why do shepherds get up from a good cup of coffee, pleasant conversation, and a yummy dessert - because they have compassion on their confused and helpless sheep. Kids don’t know what is best for them. Sometimes we can get to be 45 years old, and realize that in some ways, we’re still like a small child – confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Notice that the shepherd is motivated by compassion, not control. He doesn’t condemn the sheep because they’re acting like sheep. He intervenes because he loves those silly sheep. The shepherd also distinguishes between judging and using good judgment. This is a very important point. Judging the sheep would lead to blaming, shaming and condemnation. Using good judgment requires the shepherd to pause to prepare and decide the best course of action FOR THE SHEEP.
I think all of us just expect Jesus to be compassionate. After all, he’s the son of God! But he was also the son of a woman – and he was born into a family system. I believe that we cannot presume on the compassion of Christ. It’s hard work to maintain patience with a bunch of sheep running wild and acting up. So I’d like to suggest that you set aside your assumption that Jesus is a good guy and consider how his family might have taught him something about being the kind of guy who looks past the warts and sees others as God intended for them to become.
Matthew one is a genealogy of Jesus. Matthew cares about this, because he’s trying to prove to his Jewish friends that Jesus is who the prophets predicted he would be – a Messiah from the line of David and Abraham. Most genealogies do not include women. This one does. Women didn’t get much respect back in the day of Jesus. It is curious to me that God inspired Matthew to include some women. Not just any women – some bad girls from the Bible.
Tamar, the mother of Zerah (verse 3) pretended to be a prostitute, slept with her father-in-law, and then blackmailed him to get what she wanted. Rahab (verse 5) was a prostitute who helped some of God’s people escape the bad guys – but she was a prostitute. She also came from a group of people that were considered quite unsavory. Solomon’s mom was Uriah’s wife (verse 6) who committed adultery with King David. Messy, messy people. Despite this messy family tree, God chose this family to provide Jesus with his earthly DNA.
I don’t know where you come from, and what DNA may have contributed to your powerless and unmanageable life. But I know this: Jesus, our deliverer, will deliver us from evil without shame, blame, or condemnation.
Scripture reading for today: Matthew 5
Thought for today: Because of the motivation of Jesus’ heart, and in light of the awesome resources at his disposal, he is trustworthy and well qualified to meet us at our point of greatest need. I pray that today will be a day when you draw nearer to him.
Thought for tomorrow:
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV
Teresa McBean
January 15, 2007
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