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Are We Sure The Flock Isn’t Lost Too??
My first response to scripture passages like this is to try to place myself in the position of the protagonist. If I can visualize the scene and myself acting as its central character then I can somehow glean a better understanding of God’s purpose for telling me the story. So go with me now on this scene… Greg is a shepherd with 100 sheep. His background as an engineer allows him to quickly notice that one is missing. Now, our hero shepherd wonders to himself: Is it worth the sacrifice to try to find this one sheep? Sheep are dumb, relatively cheap and easy to replace. After all, I’ve got a few pregnant ones hanging around as we speak. How can I take care of the whole group if I’m off running around trying to find one sheep that did not come with an internal GPS? It’s likely the sheep has already been lost forever to the predators that are always around the dark perimeter.
Some of you may agree with my perspective above…maybe a lot of you would agree. I believe God wants us to see that while we may not fully appreciate the value of an individual, God would do whatever it takes to reach out to lost people so that individual can be a part of His family again, or for the first time. Only God fully appreciates the value of one individual and He would do anything to save one soul – even send His son to die for that one person.
Now that we know God will do anything to save one person, what are we going to do? Are we going to fight against God as He goes out to rescue the individuals? Are we going to complain that He’s not around enough to take care of us, the large and more important flock of sheep? Or, are we going to lean on each other to make the flock stronger, supporting each other’s needs and working together to take the flock closer to where the lost sheep are living?
wow. love this. this will preach… in fact, this will be a part of my sermon this week!!! what are we (as individuals and as a church) willing to do to save lost people? Creating a “contemporary” atmostphere on Sunday mornings just isn’t enough. What risks am I willing to take? What about you?
thanks, Greg.
Greg this a great comment on the lost sheep. It is so wonder to know that we have a heavenly Father who will do anything to seek us out. If we are not a follower he chases us done like the hound of haven. If we are believers that have gone astray he seeks us out as a prodical. I do have a question. What do you mean by the following line. “God would do whatever it takes to reach out to lost people so that individual can be a part of His family again, or for the first time.” What do you mean by “again.” Thanks for these refreshing thought today!
Rob,
I was referring to people who have walked away from God. God has not abandoned them of course, but they have left the family on their own will out of rebellion, out of lack of obedience, etc. I know too many people who know God loves them and know God has a purpose for them, but they choose to walk their own path and follow their own will. They were saved long ago, but today they live in sin, disobedience, anger, bitterness, solitude…not abiding in the grace and mercy God is freely offering. I want to see those people back inside the family, working and walking beside fellow believers again like they did before.