Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Crowds are not really a sum of many persons. A crowd is more and less at the same time. Jesus often talked to "the crowd". He realized, that a crowd reacts to different things than a person does. A person, cpnfronted him, might shy away, but the crowd cried both, crown him king and crucify within a very short time span. It is very difficult or even maybe impossible to stand on what I know to be right the moment there is a crowd. for the crowd will follow its "bed" and stamp over everything that stands in its way. That is how huge rock-concerts generate enthusiasm or football or baseball games get cheering crowds.
A crowd is a dangerous place to be, if I don't agree with it. But if I secretely agree, it is the safest place to do, what I might long to do but dare not otherwise. Even following Jesus was a phenomenon of the crowd. Everybody went. So many may have gone without conviction. But it was, what everybody does. And that is hard to resist, be it for better or for worse.
Jesus didn't judge the crowd. he pitied them for he knew, they had no real chance to take a stand. Which is my point here. If you'd like to take a stand, get away from the crowd, the "chicken", who hack everybody into place, and find out what is right. Jesus went into the desert, he told his disciples to pray in a room, hidden from eyes, to be able to concentrate on the father. No matter how big or how good the crowd - many megachurches are crowds too, don't loose youself in it but take a stand for God. Alone. Whether the crowd is on your side or not.

John 8:34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

John 8:34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. - In these times of war, pain, disaster, poverty many people long to be free. Usually, by being free they - and we - mean to have our western freedom to speak, eat, sleep in a bed, being able to work, love, hope, go to school or leave it as seems to fit the mood. Free from the tyranny of dictators of this world. But there is one dictator, nobody can escape. His name is sin.
As long as we commit any sin, even the smallest, we admit we know our ruler. It is inborn. The need to sin is inborn to us. Inherited like a genetic code. We wouldn't do better than Adam and Eve. They are prototypes of the human race. We might even do a lot worse. 
I sometimes wonder, whether this inborn need to sin has been spread into nature. The lion didn't always eat meat. He started to do so after Noah came out of the arc. Maybe many more ills of nature are bound to our fall. Paul said so. he wrote that all of nature is groaning, expecting to be freed from slavery. 
Does even the butterfly sin? In all its innocent and fragile beauty? How can he - how can I ever be free? Grace be to the Lord Jesus Christ who opened a door for all, a to get away from the worst tyrant of all: Sin.

Psalm 147:1 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

I have wondered sometimes, whether this world is more to God that a game. A game of dice if you like. Are we the dice? Has he been playing dice to decide how to build this world? Some physicists say, there was no other world, no other univers possibly creatable. But Nils Bohr said even a hundred years ago: We cannot tell God how to create worlds.
God is supreme. He has the right to create things the way he likes.
And, actually, to be a dice in the hand of God would be big honor. His thinking about me, even if it is to drown me, is a treat, a pleasure, an honor. God has the right to do with his own as he pleases. Even if it hurts.
If he is the potter and we are the clay, as Paul wrote, he will make some things for honorable use. But most things are needed for daily or even nasty use. He will decide as he sees it fit and he will see it through.

He deserves to be praised and worshipped.

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.

When I live, I live always watched by someone immensly greater than I am. I have tried to picture it here. Compared to God I am such a small entity. It is a miracle that he cares. That he is watching. Have you read: "Big brother is watching you?" There is someone watching us all. And weighting every word, every geste, every thought. Not to speak of bold actions or shameful dealings. He knows. Always.
Sometimes it seems like I expect him to understand, like the dog still wags his tail even when I come home too late. To always be on my side. He is. But in his own way. That includes sometimes not liking what he sees.
If what I do would be seen by the one person I love most or fear most, would I still be o.k with it? If everybody knew, as everybody will know, what my life is made of, will I still be proud and think it a good thing?
I often try to stay in that thought when I need to make a decision. If I looked into the eyes of the world, of God, of all those I love, would I still want to be known for having done this? For having lived my life the way I do?
Do you? Can all you do stand in front of the one, who can stand firm in front of you? The one who knows it all? Sometimes this thought scares me. Like a sparrow am I? Just a little more? Do you know how many sparrows die each moment? Could I die knowing it is God's will by still giving him praise? KNowing he is watching me fall and die?

Can you?