December 23, 2022

NONE SHOULD PERISH

Matthew 18:12-14

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Personal Challenge

It is sad to see that fewer and fewer leaders in the modern church, the pastors and the priests, are being taught to be shepherds. Jesus used parables related to shepherds very often because these parables paint very good pictures of what He wanted His followers to do. In this parable He makes it clear that leaders should care about those who have walked away. They should be lovingly pursued, not chastised. They should be shown the love of Christ, not admonished for the services the have missed. We should all care about those whom we notice are missing from our communities, not snub them when they do show up after an absence. What does Jesus expect us to do? To love our neighbors as ourselves. Lord, have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord, have mercy!