DATE POSTED
Friday, July 3, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
I would love for you to read today’s Scripture in your own personal Bible!

Mat 9:36 ~ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (NLT)

Acts 1:8 ~ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NLT)

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

It is striking to notice how the disciples interacted with the crowds. Often, they saw the immediate, physical needs—like hunger or keeping the crowd seated and under control, but it was Jesus who truly noticed the condition of their souls..

Could it be that we, too, have become hardened to the crowds around us? Whether we are sitting in a church pew or walking through the marketplace, do we look at the people around us and assume they will always just be “lost sheep”? Have we grown so accustomed to the brokenness of the world that we have lost concern for their eternal fate?

Before Christ transforms our hearts, it is easy to ignore the lost or view them with indifference. But After Christ, our vision changes.

The Bible teaches us how to recognize a life that has been transformed by God. Evidence of salvation naturally bleeds through every fiber of a believer’s being. Scripture calls this “Spiritual Fruit“—the love, joy, peace, and patience outlined in Galatians 5:22-23. When this fruit is absent in someone’s life, it shouldn’t provoke our judgment; it should ignite our mission. We are called to witness to them, recognizing their deep spiritual need.

Please remember: God is the Judge, and He has not delegated that job to you or me. Let Him do His work. When a life-threatening storm is approaching, you don’t beat your neighbors over the head about why they didn’t prepare; you simply invite them into a safe place.

As believers, we know how this story ends. We know Jesus is returning to take His Church home. I believe with all my heart that when the love of Jesus lives inside you, you naturally want to take as many people to heaven with you as possible. Acts 1:8 makes our instructions for this eventual departure incredibly clear: Go into all the world and tell them about Jesus.

Jesus described the unsaved as “confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” God is calling us today to go and teach, encourage, invite, and demonstrate His saving knowledge. This truth should exude from our every word, action, and thought. After all, sharing the Gospel is simply like one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread.

As you pray for opportunities, trust that Jesus is already working in the hearts of those you are reaching out to. Only Jesus can save a sinner and present them blameless before the Father.

To God be all the glory and honor for choosing to work through ordinary vessels like you and me!

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the times I have looked at the crowds around me with indifference or judgment instead of through your eyes of compassion. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit so that I can be a bold, loving witness for You. Give me the courage to simply share the Bread of Life with those who are starving. Use this ordinary vessel to point a confused and helpless world back to the True Shepherd. In Jesus’ name, Amen

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!