September 3 — "A Shepherd’s Beating Heart"

Today's Reading: Matthew 9:18-38

Jesus never looked at a crowd the way we do. We often see traffic, statistics, problems, interruptions, annoyances. He saw sheep—harassed, helpless, wandering. Matthew 9:36 says, “He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”

That’s the heart of a true Shepherd. Not just one who sees the crowd, but one who feels their ache, notices their need, and moves toward them with love. Being a Shepherd isn’t about wielding a staff—it’s about laying down your life. It’s fierce, tender, and wildly generous.

Jesus embodied this perfectly. He didn’t glance past the crowd or delegate their pain. He stepped in. His heart was protective, patient, and extravagantly kind. He didn’t just see their brokenness—He felt it. And then He acted.

So what does that look like in us? As we grow in Christ, His Shepherd heart should begin to beat inside us. It may be a faint pulse at first, but as we grow we start noticing the hurting, the harassed, the helpless. And we don’t just notice—we feel the tug of God’s compassion and the call to guide, protect, and love until they find their way home.

But if you don’t feel that ache—if you can walk past the broken and feel nothing—then something’s wrong. Not just “missing.” Wrong. Because if Christ lives in you, His compassion should be leaking out of you. If your heart doesn’t break for the lost, it’s time to ask: Whose heart is beating in your chest?

The Gospel doesn’t call us to a life of comfort. It calls us to carry—to carry their burdens, to carry the weight of their pain. If you’re not moved by the harassed and helpless, maybe you’ve forgotten what it felt like to be one of them. Maybe you’ve grown numb. Maybe you’ve grown proud. Either way, it’s time to repent.

If you already carry a Shepherd’s heart—bless the Lord for it! Tend it well. Keep it soft by staying close to Jesus, the Chief Shepherd. Feed it with His Word. Guard it from bitterness and burnout. And when you see someone straying—go gently, go boldly, go lovingly.

If you don’t sense this Shepherd heart pulsing inside of you—ask for it. “You have not because you ask not.” (James 4:2)  Seek the Lord for it. Wait upon His Spirit until that heart starts beating. Then, start to serve others. Go where it’s hard. Serve where it’s inconvenient. Love when it’s uncomfortable. Compassion grows when you use it.

From the heart of the Good Shepherd to yours—may He give you eyes that see, a heart that aches, and hands that heal.