Does Jesus See My Needs?

We have needs that go on unfilled, needs like love, forgiveness, freedom from guilt and a need for hope.  Does Jesus know- does he care?

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Matthew 9:36, NIV.

CROWDS
The first words tell it all. "When He saw the crowds..." He sees. He is looking in a way that is thoughtful of us. When Jesus saw the crowds he saw the individuals in an intimate, understanding and knowing way.

We may not have been there that day but we are all alike; we are hungry for something in our lives and want to find meaning, purpose, God, hope, and comfort for our souls. No matter how many we are he cares for each of us.

COMPASSION
Jesus lived a life that was full of emotion. He felt compassion for the crowds. The religious leaders of his day had no feeling for the crowds, they sought their own benefit. Jesus cares for each one in the crowd. He sees our need and sets it ahead of his own.

HARASSED
We are harassed today by guilt and sin. We are victims of people who should love us or who are malicious. Our world promises peace and prosperity and we chase the dream of happiness but are disappointed. We look for hope and chase after one promise of happiness to the next.  We are harassed by our own longings and desires. We cannot escape our sins or purge our guilt.

SHEPHERD
Jesus is the shepherd who has compassion on us. He knows our need and he acts. Compassion is not just feeling it is a feeling that leads to action. Jesus is the shepherd who gave his life for the sheep* and he arose from the tomb to be the one who gives victory and assurance of the permanence and power of his love for us.

Jesus came to meet our greatest need- the need for forgiveness from our sins and to be brought back to God. When we come to him we begin a new life in him; some of our needs are resolved and some others we must wait until he finishes working in us.

Feelings may lead us astray and though we may not feel it the facts are that Jesus meets all of our deepest needs.

To learn more about having a new life in Jesus follow this link: Click Here.

*John 10:11

(c)Adron Dozat

Why Does God Make Daily Life So hard?

Is there a reason for all these hardships?

If God loves us and has a perfect plan then why do we have so many chores and live lives of drudgery where we can barely get ahead?

"He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance, and David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them." Psalm 78:70 -72. NIV*.

LOWLY SHEPHERD

To be an ancient shepherd was a boring job. Shepherds lived outdoors every day, sun or rain, they missed community activities like worship or festivals. Shepherds wandered over the hills looking for lost sheep, pasture or water, they lived in fear of predators or robbers. Shepherds had no future, few friends, and little thanks.

CHORES AND FRUSTRATION
Our lives are full of dull drudgery. We clean the house and it gets dirty again, we change the diapers over and over, we care for kids or bosses, or spouses, with no thanks.

We are impatient to "get on with it." We want to do something great like be a preacher or missionary or theologian. We have to remember it was from the boring years of drudgery and thankless labor that David was made ready to lead Israel.

PURPOSE

There is freedom when we recognize the common daily drudgery as full of God's purpose.  As Christians our lives are not our own, we serve him not ourselves. God is doing something in our lives, and it takes time. To grow a squash only takes six weeks but to grow a stately oak tree that may take a hundred years; so, we must be patient with God's timing, he is remaking us into something beautiful. Consider that Jesus spent 90% of his life on the earth working in a carpenter shop and only the last 10%, three years, in ministry.

There is great power when Christians go about their daily task without complaining. The world does not want more "superstar" Christians; the lost people around us are seeking meaning, and when they see people living the grace of God in daily trials they respond.

MAKING READY

Instead of resenting, and complaining we must rest in God's grace. We must see his hand in the everyday boredom of life's tasks and focus on His purpose. He has a plan for each of us, that plan may include cleaning the toilets, taking out the trash, and working hard at a dead-end job. We learn to do these things by His power and over time we will become the person He desires us to be. Like David when we master the lessons of the daily common tasks we will be ready to apply those lessons to great things.

To read this verse in other translations follow this link: Online Parallel Bible.

© Adron 12/2/12