Scripture: Matthew 18:12
What do you think? If someone had one hundred sheep and one of them wandered off, wouldn’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides and go in search for the one that wandered off?
Thought for the Day: Borrowing a phrase from Dr. Mark Whitten, I believe Jesus was looking for the “yuck factor” when saying these words. What I mean is that Jesus had been challenging a culture that was dismissing and devaluing the marginalized among them. He spoke about humility as the way of discipleship, and then he presented a parable of sorts that spoke of a single sheep wandering off and getting lost. We are quick to jump to the saving act of the lost sheep, but sheep and shepherding was yucky business. It wasn’t something these disciples would be caught dead doing. I imagine Jesus watching his disciples to see if they grimaced or rolled their eyes or gagged just a bit when sheep were mentioned. It’s the difference between loving the ways of Jesus in theory and loving the ways of Jesus. The parables, though simple on a very superficial level, are in fact complex and controversial and counter intuitive. Jesus could tell by their body language whether or not the disciples were getting it.
Prayer: What does my body language say to you, Gracious God? Help me to understand the beauty that most of the world has dismissed as ugly and worthless. Amen.
TOMORROW’S WORSHIP
…and then don’t forget:
THE INFORMATIONAL MEETING
Sunday at 10:10am
