Shepherding the Broken

A young boy once decided to take care of his old, broken toy sheep. He carried it with him everywhere, patching it up with stickers and even thread. When people asked why he cared for something seemingly useless, he replied, 'Because it’s mine!'

We must understand that first and foremost, we are Jesus’ most cherished possessions. We are a tattered, bruised, haggard lot, but Jesus, in His tender Love and Mercy, has taken us, and mended us, put us back together, cleaned us up, tended the rips and tears of our lives, and made something beautiful of us.

Then He did something, in my opinion anyway more amazing, He took all of us “scraps” and put us together as an amazing tapestry of different perspectives, ideologies and understandings and where we were/are wrong, HE sets us right and HE has created a Church of ‘broken misfits’ and made a Glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle ~ Perfect in the eyes of God who He is coming for in the twinkling of an eye.

So, today, let’s look at that journey together…

This passage in Acts that we read starts off like many other sad stories, good person, lived a great life of service, gets sick and dies.

Acts 9:36–37 ESV

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

1. Remembering the Righteous

How many times have we heard this story? Good person, gets sick and dies? That just doesn’t make sense does it? But here we are… First Century Church. Signs, wonders, miracles! Yet, here’s Tabitha, getting sick and dying. Doesn’t seem right does it? It doesn’t describe her illness. It doesn’t say it was a long illness or a short one, just that she became ill and died.

So, what do they do? They washed her and laid her in an upper room… then…

Acts 9:38–39 ESV

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

They call Peter and start showing Peter all of the wonderful things she had done while she was alive.

What was that all about? Did they think Peter was the gatekeeper at the Pearly Gates or something and needed to convince him to let her in?

Let’s just say, they called the right guy, maybe for the wrong reason!

Acts 9:40–41 ESV

40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

A couple of quick points here:

He put out all the doubters. Anyone who was a distraction. The weepy-whiners. All of them!

He simply knelt down and prayed. He didn’t rail on heaven. He didn’t “bind and loose” death. He didn’t “take authority” over anything. He simply prayed, turned and told her “Tabitha, arise.” Guess what? she did. Maybe a lesson for the 21st Century Church who is taking far too much time going to “deliverance school.” Learning how to have a “healing ministry.”

How about we get on our knees and pray? Hmmm…

Remember our little boy at the beginning with the toy sheep? Yeah, the sheep are us. Remember the Psalm that we read this morning?

Psalm 23:1–3 ESV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

2. Reassuring the Restless

Here is an interesting thought for us. Remember all the weepy-whiners that Peter put outside? Yeah, that’s us. WE are the distractions too many times for God to actually move on our behalf.

Let’s look at this again.

Psalm 23:2 ESV

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures…

Kinda sounds like a parent needing a little peace and quiet to get something done doesn’t it?

“Go lay down.” “Take a rest.” “Love you.”

“Step outside, I’d like to spend a moment with Tabitha…”

Sometimes, we just need to “give it a rest!”

How about this one?

Psalm 46:10 ESV

10 “Be still, and know that I am God…

Too many times, we act like we are being punished by God when in all truthfulness, He is not chastising us, He is simply directing us to a Peaceful place so He can do what He wishes to do FOR US.

3. Reassuring the Reluctant

We are more often than not, simply overstimulated children, needing to be quieted so we can see and hear the Father’s good works.

All through Scripture, we are referred to as “sheep.” There are numerous references to Jesus the “Good Shepherd.”

We, like sheep have gone astray…

Sheep, famously are not smart animals. But there is one thing that they do know!

John 10:27 ESV

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Even though I am a scared little lamb, I need not to be afraid, because the Good Shepherd is looking out for me. He cares for me. When I wander, He redirects me, when I’m hungry, he leads me to green pastures, when I’m thirsty, He leads me to still, cool waters, when I’m hurt, He tend to my wounds.

Well, what if my wounds lead to death?

Psalm 23:4 ESV

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Like Tabitha, she faced death, she became ill and died. Peter prayed and she rose from the dead. Maybe that happens, maybe not.

4. Rejoicing in Restoration

Good news for those in Christ either way! Death is a shadow. There is nothing to fear with a shadow.

We have a great hope in Christ in this life and in the life that is to come. A lot of people get hung up on Revelation because of the supposed Apolitical theme. I frankly don’t see that. I don’t see destruction of the world. I see the Coming of the King of Kings. This seems hopeful to me!

Revelation 7:9–12 ESV

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

What more needs to be said?