Matthew 18:12-14 What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
Good morning family,
The subject line of this email might look like a mashup of two completely different thoughts, but let me explain why I have placed them together. On Saturday night, we had our second in person meeting. As 6 pm came and went, very few people were in attendance. I could feel my anxiety creeping up. I felt embarrassed, frustrated and somewhat of a failure. As the meeting started, I prayed: “Lord, I am doing this for you. Please make a way.” A short time later, several more people walked in.
It wasn’t until the end of the night that I realized that what had really bothered me, sadly, was my pride…because I was looking bad… but God reminded me then that He opposes the prideful.
But, what does “leaving the 99 for the one” have to do with it? I believe the following excerpt from Cory Asbury’s song, “Reckless Love,” describes what God placed on my heart: “the never-ending, reckless love of God…fights ’til I’m found, leaves the 99, and I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still You give yourself away.” Jesus gave Himself for all of us and I have to fight for the one to be saved, even if that means putting aside my pride. So whether one person shows up to the meetings, or many, I will keep doing what He has called me to do.
Because isn’t one worth it?
Praying that God would reveal any prideful things in your heart as He did in mine, and may He give us the strength to oppose it and learn from it.