Caring for the Vulnerable

Matthew 18:12-14 ESV
“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

Jesus begins to illustrate the value placed on every single person who believes in Him. Jesus is the shepherd with 100 sheep. Jesus asks the question to His disciples, what a shepherd with that many sheep will do if just one of them goes astray. Won’t the shepherd leave behind the 99 to go search for the one?

The shepherd would leave his flock with other shepherds in the area who were tending their own sheep in order to go and find his own wandering sheep. Jesus has the same attitude toward His own “little ones,” believers in Jesus, who go astray.

From the world’s perspective, it would be crazy to leave your sheep on the hills with a hireling or another shepherd to go find the one that’s wandered off on its own. But in God’s view, you don’t write the vulnerable off. The ultimate point is that there are some that view certain people as insignificant, but God doesn’t share that view.

He’s willing to leave 99 healthy and contributing members of the kingdom to go off looking for one stray child. He’s willing to spend time with the outcast, the insignificant, sinners, wayward children who have lost their way or wondered off the path that God has set for them. He’s willing to leave His throne to come and rescue a depraved and rebellious world. All people matter to God!

Prayer:

Lord, thank You that You sought us out, even when we did not deserve Your rescue, from our point of view. You said we are valued enough to leave the productive in the Kingdom to come find us. We don’t deserve that much love, but we accept it and receive it, in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen!