Matthew 18: God is a SEEKER
These verses should comfort AND challenge us.
Matthew 18:12-14 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! 14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.
Here are a couple things that should comfort us.
#1 He came after me! We should thank God EVERYDAY that He sought us out. That he left the fold and searched for us to win US to HIM. Everyday we need to be reminded that WE left Him and didn’t deserve to be a part of the fold. We earned death but HE gave life. God is a SEEKER.
#2 He goes after others! Have a friend who is lost? A family member who has wandered away? A son, daughter, husband, wife that doesn’t belong to the fold? He is a SEEKER of them too. Just as He sought and found you, He is doing the same for them. DON’T GIVE UP! Keep praying. Keep sharing. Keep loving. God is a SEEKER.
Challenge?
#1 If HE goes after the lost…shouldn’t we? Why in the world, if THE Shepherd goes out in search of the lost wouldn’t THAT be our greatest desire as the church? The MINUTE our churches become about the 99 MORE than about the one WE DON’T HAVE THE FATHERS HEART! He is a SEEKER! How are my prayers directed personally? How are our programs directed corporately? “If only for the one.” This is the heartbeat of Christ. Jesus said in Luke 19:10 “I came to seek and to save those who are lost.” Luke 5:31-32 says “It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but sick people. I came to call, not those who THINK they are righteous, but those who KNOW they are sinners and need to repent.”
#2 Don’t take pride in being part of the 99. You’re only there because the Shepherd LET’S you be there. Too often I think we get all puffed up spiritually thinking “Look at me. I’m not wandering. I’ve served Jesus for all these years. I’m in the fold. I’m part of the flock. I bet Jesus is SO proud of me.” Notice, it doesn’t say that God doesn’t rejoice at ALL over the 99, just that He rejoices MORE for the lost that was found. Listen, you’re only as deep as the last person you served. If you’re part of the 99, GET OUT of the pen and start helping look for the lost and serving those around you. If all you do is just sit in the sheep stall, you’re going to end up fat, stinky and useless. GET OUT AND DO SOMETHING!
Challenged…and comforted,
Jeff
