Leading Them Home
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. - Matthew 9:36 (NIV)
Some time ago, God showed me that my heart had grown colder to non-Christians. He impressed apon me the need to pray for a heart for lost people. I continued faithfully in that pray for many days until God challenged me to take it deeper. I sensed that I should pray that God would not just soften my heart toward them, but that he would break my heart for them. I took the challenge to begin to pray for such a broken heart.
Some weeks later, I was driving to church early one Sunday morning down a busy two-lane road when I noticed a small child clothed only in diapers walking along the white line of the road all by himself. After barely missing the child, I jumped out to assist.
"Where are you going, little boy?" I asked. He did not reply. He looked dazed and out of sorts. "Where is your home?" I continued. He answered in unintelligible gibberish.
Without another option, I decided to lead him down a nearby intersecting street. "When you see your home, point to it" I instructed him. As we walked together, holding hands, he soon pointed to a nearby house. We found that this indeed was his home, and his parents were both shocked and relieved to have him returned.
As I returned to my car, I sensed God's presence awakening me to the truth he wanted to drive home. People without Christ, those who are spiritually lost, are just like this little boy. They are confused, lost, naked, alone, an inch away from destruction, and all they need is for someone to take them by the hand and lead them Home.
God broke my heart for lost people right there that day. People who are disconnected from Christ are not who they want us to believe they are. They don't have it all together. They are not doing just fine, thank you very much. They are lost, alone, naked and bare. When I find myself being intimidated to share my faith with someone, God reminds me that they are like this small child.
God keeps reminding me of that day - to pray for lost people, to spend time with them, to love them and by God's grace, to be a part of leading them by the hand home to their Father.
