Matthew 18:12-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹² “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.

This passage of the Bible has confused me my whole life.  To be perfectly honest, I believe that if I were the shepherd and one of my 100 sheep wandered away, I would not leave the ninety-nine to find the one.  I would cut my losses and move on.  I would evaluate the risk of leaving the 99 in pursuit of the one – that I might lose more of the 99 and not end up with the one anyway.  In truth, as I look back on different opportunities that I’ve had to share Jesus with people throughout my life, and some heard the news and some didn’t, there came a point with those who didn’t where I simply gave up.  The good news is that God’s ways are not my ways, and He will relentless pursue us, not giving up on us until we have found the Peace that Passes all understanding. 

A few months ago, we studied this passage of the Bible in our youth group.  In our discussion, our youth pastor pointed out that when Jesus began this discussion to put out that it IS a ridiculous thought to leave the 99 too pursue the one.  Jesus used the ridiculousness of this thought to grab the attention of those to whom He was speaking so that he could share the truth with them.  They all knew that it is silly to leave the majority to pursue the one.   Yet, this is exactly what God does sometimes. 

In my discussion a few weeks ago with my new-found friend, Bob (the recovering alcoholic who is writing a book about his journey), we wondered outloud why it seems there are certain people that God pursues relentlessly, and why there are certain people who have a predisposition to really hear God’s voice and others could seemingly care less.  Although I don’t have the answer, I know it’s true.  I have seen God relentlessly pursuing people, and continuing to give them opportunities to return to Him like the prodigal’s son. 

For Bob, that moment occurred when God leaned over and said to him in an inaudible but unmistakable voice that He would let Bob die if he didn’t get his life straightened out.   In my life, that moment occurred when I truly heard the words of Jeremiah 29:11 for the first time.  In Rich’s life, the crushing of his spinal cord was an “ah-ha” moment for us that God was in reckless pursuit of his soul. 

God will allow heartache and even physical pain into our lives to get our attention.   He IS pursuing you.  He is reaching his hand out to you today to ask you to join Him for all eternity.  All it takes is for your to acknowledge Him as your Savior and make him Lord of your life.   He will take the ugliness in you – your sin and your filth – and make you beautiful in His eyes – it doesn’t really matter what you’ve done, or how unworthy you think you are. 

I’ve been asked why I’m so passionate to be a servant of the Lord and put myself out there to a world that doesn’t care.  My only response is this quote from Charles Spurgeon: 

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

My prayer for you today, my friend, is that the Holy Spirit will flood your entire being with the reckless pursuit of the Heavenly Father, who is calling you home to Him.   May you hear His voice and obey His calling. 

Make a difference for just one today…

Blessings,

SB

copyright 2018 – Journey For Life – All Rights Reserved

To Bring You Back – Paul Alan

Are you thirsty 
Standing in the rain? 
Not sure where you are 
Or how you lost your way? 
Are you drowning 
In some bar outside of town? 
Searching for something given not found? 
A crowd of people 
But totally alone? 
At the front door 
But worlds away from home? 

Light up the nights last regret and 
Burn your only safety net 
Step to the edge 
It’s such a long way down 

Chorus: 
I left the ninety-nine to find the one 
And you’re the one 
I walked a thousand miles 
In this desert sun 
Only to bring you back 
Only to bring you back 

Are you tired 
Of chasing the wind under water? 
Do you aspire to breath again? 
Are you dying? 
Is that the best that you can do? 
Cause you can’t find your place 
In a world that wasn’t meant for you? 

Hello it’s Me 
I couldn’t sleep 
I was just counting sheep 
And I’m missing you, 
Hello it’s Me 
I couldn’t sleep 
I was just counting sheep.