My Mix Master.

During Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Althea shared a music montage. The theme carried through the music was a call for justice. Our pastor noted an important point: the music clips spanned a period of almost fifty years, but today we appear to be no closer to experiencing justice for all in our society. She then shared something that I’d like us to reflect on for today: If God is not “in the mix”, then we won’t see anything change.

In the face of Jesus’s teaching, preaching, and healing ministry, the assessment of the listening crowd was this: “… they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36b). We are reminded that even in modern Christian circles we experience this gap: "the crowd" has some knowledge about God, some interest in being in the places where His works are manifest, and perhaps even some personal experience of the miraculous, and yet the crowd never takes the step of truly opening their hearts to God as their Lord and Master.

Have you and I made room in our hearts for the One who is righteous and just? Do our countenance and lifestyle reflect the peaceful, victorious reign of God, or are our life-lyrics a soundtrack of harassment and helplessness?

Are you willing to be shepherded?

Is God in your mix?

Savior, like a Shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care;

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare.

Blessed Jesus, Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

We are Thine; do Thou befriend us, be the Guardian of our way;

Keep Thy flock; from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.

Blessed Jesus, hear Thy children when they pray.

Early let us seek Thy favor, early let us do Thy will;

Blessed Lord and only Savior, with Thy love our bosoms fill.

Blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still.

(hymn Attr. to Dorothy A. Thrupp, 1779-1847)

All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.