Vulnerable

[jcross]

Christians are needy people. To dismiss this is to deny our frail humanity and in process sanctification. We are so very weak and any strength we have is a gift from the gracious hand of God. Without Christ, our lives would be full of pride, or deception and brokenness. That's where Jesus Christ found and rescued us, in our lostness. The places we came from are full of people who live without Christ. The wounded and feeble are all around us and many live without the the nurture and restoration of the Gentle Shepherd. How they need Christ.

There is an epidemic upon us of fatherless children. The statistics are staggering. There are many struggling single parent homes. In our own congregation, we have identified numerous single parents. We pray regularly for the single moms who struggle with economic pressures, fight difficult court and custody battles and battle with loneliness and exclusion. In spite of the their best and often heroic efforts, how nurturing can many of these homes be for children who are caught in the middle? These homes need financial help, legal advocacy, acts of kindness, inclusion in the wider Christian community and encouragement to keep going. Christian families need to become the new "big brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers" for vulnerable children. The care of these is a demonstration of pure religion. We need Jesus to help us love the widow and orphans. "Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us" (Wm. Gaither).

Once again, we are called to closer walk. Jesus said, "take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle..."(Matt. 11:29). We need to learn from Him and be filled with Him and led by Him. "Saviour, like a shepherd lead us, much we need thy tender care"(D. Thrupp). Knowing Jesus leads us with gentleness each moment of each day, we are sent into the pastures and deserts of life to do the same for the vulnerable among us.