READ: Psalm 118:5-17
“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted…“ – Matthew 9:36
Many sheep are scattered because they have no shepherd. Shepherds equally become dispersed and do not belong to any family or grouping. If you are led by the Holy Spirit you will definitely hear God telling you to be part of some larger body . Even if you are an independent minister, you will benefit immensely by belonging to other groups and fellowships. I enjoy some of the greatest blessings of my ministry because I am deeply connected to other spiritual groups.
“Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36, NASB).
All kinds of distressing situations come to the lives of God’s servants. Being a pastor does not insulate you from these realities. However, having a shepherd in your life will definitely help you through the distressing times of ministry. David was distressed on many occasions. There were times he was surrounded by his enemies. On many occasions, he was in critical danger.
He cried: “They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off. They surrounded me like bees; they were extinguished as a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off” (Psalm 118:11-12, NASB) But in his distress he called on his shepherd. The Lord was his shepherd and the Lord helped him.