Listen

Watch out, you shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, declares the Lord. This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, proclaims about the shepherds who “tend to” my people: You are the ones who have scattered my flock and driven them away. You haven’t attended to their needs, so I will take revenge on you for the terrible things you have done to them, declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:1-2

Think

Just before today’s passage, we read “oracles against the kings” – God’s words spoken by the prophet Jeremiah against the kings for their corruption and injustice, cruelty and oppression. Our passage in Jeremiah 23 starts with God responding to the grumblings and protests of the people – God’s sheep – who have been mistreated and scattered.

God spoke because too many had been silenced by the oppressive forces of greed and self-interest. God spoke because God had enough of seeing suffering and pain. God spoke because God had enough of hearing cries of injustice and inequality.

Have you had enough? Open your eyes and see the people who are hurting. Hunger, oppression, and discrimination are real issues to real people. Listen to the world around you and hear the cries of those who are suffering. Injustice and cruelty continue in our communities.

You are a follower of Jesus. Therefore, know the issues we face, and let’s do something about it together.

Ed Stallworth

Pray

Lord, may I have the awareness and then the courage to respond to the cries of the people. Amen.

Go

You are the answer to the prayers of the hungry, lonely, bullied, oppressed, and hurting.

What will you do today – not tomorrow or someday – to be the hands and feet of God in your world?