He will care for His flock.

Back in 2001, September 11 became etched in the memory of those alive as no longer “just another day,” but a day that changed how we as Americans live due to terrorist attacks on our soil aimed at causing damage and fear. That evening, we held an impromptu worship service in the sanctuary because people wanted to instinctively come together and seek the Lord’s care and peace in the midst of a tumultuous world that was not making sense.  

Obviously our world continues to be terribly affected by violence and hatred, such as recent school shootings and the assassination of the conservative influencer Charlie Kirk who would hold open mic debates on college campuses. What is to me even more disturbing are the extreme reactions often shared on social media which sometimes seem to excuse the violence and hatred or even celebrate it, depending on who the victim is. As that happens, the rhetoric is amped up and the desire for revenge and more hatred and violence increases. 

How did we get to this point? The fact is, our time in history is not unique. A close reading of Ezekiel 34 decries the self-centeredness of Israel’s political and religious leaders leading up to the exile in Babylon which, in turn, spilled over into the people’s lack of care for each other. Yet God promised that He Himself would do what human beings failed to do: care for His flock. 

And so, Jesus came as Savior. But if He is Savior, why does the evil one still have such influence in this world? Because Jesus has not yet returned as Judge of the living and the dead, ushering in the new heaven and the new earth. And up until that point, the evil one will continue to incite hatred and try to lead people away from God’s path of love we see in Jesus’ selfless love. 

If we are to follow Jesus, that means following along His path of selfless love and not falling into the trap of name calling which leads to hatred which leads to violence and seeing people we disagree with as disposable objects. We follow Jesus in crying over the fallen world and the effects of sin on people, and continue through the Spirit’s power to model a much different way modeled by Stephen who was martyred by those who didn’t want to  hear him talk about Jesus: while they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:59–60) And who was there approving of the death, but later changed so he could live eternally? Saul (the apostle Paul). Perhaps there is someone in your life that needs to experience that life-changing love of Jesus as well, so he or she can join all eternity in the Father’s house.