The 99 and and 1...

 “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one that is lost? And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray. So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish.

Matthew 18

I’m pondering today on this parable. I hear about it all the time… and it’s so beautiful that we have a Shepherd like that. A Savior like that… Compassionate and gentle. Understanding. Protective. Attentive of the one. 

For those who are proclaiming to walk in the Kingdom... do we replicate that behavior? Or do we stick with the ninety-nine?  The ones who gladly stay where they’re supposed to be… the ‘less troublesome’ sheep? 

When I hear about this parable, I  generally hear people rejoicing because they were the one that Jesus/Yeshua left to find… And that is indeed… So incredible. We are each so deeply loved!!! 

At one time or another… We each have been that one… I know for a fact that I was indeed the wayward troublesome lamb… Caught in briar patches I had NO BUSINESS even walking near… and yet … There I was… again. 

But as I’m pondering… My question to myself is… do we inconvenience our lives to love on the ones who are so lost that they delay the group? They desire the Father… but their issues mess with our programs… They don’t fit the formula… They don’t pour into the mold neatly… 

 Who are the lost sheep in actuality to us? How do we see them? Do we treat them as though they are expendable? Irritating? Worthy of nothing more than dismissal?… So we can get back to the 99… Because those 99 are so much easier to lead.

 Do we shake the dust and walk away and somehow justify ourselves by thinking that the Father would give up on them too? That seems like making God in our own image. And that’s blasphemy … at best. 

We can’t force ANYONE into faith. And while it’s NOT our job to  chase people down and demand their compliance to our version of faith… we also don’t know the depths of a person’s struggles and the degree to which they desire to be whole before the Lord. We can’t write people off and dispose of them because that’s our will. Perhaps we can consider how to interact with those who don’t fit into our mold… Because that’s how iron sharpens iron. That’s how the body grows and each member finds health…by forgiving… learning… interacting… disagreeing at times… pushing each other to study the scriptures more. We NEED fellowship even when it’s messy at times. 

Do we leave the ninety-nine to care for the one… replicating the walk of our Messiah? Or do we safely stay with the flock and just thank God it wasn’t us that stumbled and got off the path this time?  Do we genuinely care for the broken? Or do we wish that they just weren’t quite so…. Messy? 

How do we love those who miss the mark… But are fervently and genuinely trying to walk out their faith? 

Do we really love the fact that our Shepherd would leave 99 ‘well-behaved’ sheep… to find the one difficult sheep that is ‘holding up progress?‘

Do we love people enough to replicate His love for them?  Or is it just an empty parable? Love is action. Not mere words. And it’s messy… but we know the One who can heal us all and transform us into His likeness. 

From one recovering messy sheep to another… Let’s rejoice in the ones that are found… And keep searching for more who are looking for the hope that can only be found in faith in the returning Messiah. 

In witnessing their struggles and encouraging them to press on towards the goal, we who have been there before have the honor of being an example. Our testimony is the survival story that redemption is possible. And our lives offer a reflection of the Light that illuminates the path back to the One who heals and restores. Hope. Compassion. Mercy. Restoration. How beautiful a Kingdom where one messy sheep… is out looking for others… And when we see them... We stand guard and love them as the Father works them out of the briars and brambles of their lives. No fame or glory... Just adoration to our amazing Creator... Because we ALL matter,. 

What’s that we hear??? … There is GREAT rejoicing in Heaven. Thank you Father for the ones You are still bringing home!