Don’t leave the ninety-nine
“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? Matthew 18:12
We all need each other. In our journey of faith, we sometimes find ourselves drifting from the flock, like the one sheep in Matthew 18:12. But just as Jesus emphasized, every lost sheep matters, and it is our community that helps us stay grounded
Do you remember the old cartoons with the sheep and the wolf? The wolf was always out to get the sheep to have for lunch, but the sheep dog, who watched out for the sheep would come along at just the right time to rescue the sheep. The interesting thing was, the wolf was always getting the sheep that were off by themselves away from the rest of the flock. Much like those old cartoons where the sheep strays, making it an easy target for the lurking wolf, we too can become vulnerable when we wander away from the protective fold of believers. The wolf, representing life’s challenges and temptations, is always ready to devour those who isolate themselves.
It’s a similar picture of our walk through life. We are to stay close with other “sheep” where the Shepherd is keeping watch. We encourage and pray for one another and look out for each other. It is a very important way of life for believers. I know this from experience. When I first started making my own decisions in life, I was headed in a direction that I thought was right to take care of myself. My desire for independence tainted my ability to make good decisions. In the process, I often found myself on the “edge of the flock” as it were. Basically, I was out from under the protection and encouragement of the church and other believers. Many times, I found myself vulnerable to the “wolves” of the world. As I continued to go through life, often I felt the need to try to find my place in a body of believers, but because I didn’t want to take the time to invest in others or get to know other believers in my area, I didn’t stay on that path very long. It was uncomfortable and awkward.
God was always so faithful to seek me out and come rushing in to protect me when I was in danger of being devoured. Much of my pain and lasting regrets from wrong choices could have been avoided had I stayed “connected” with God’s people.
Psalms 92:13-15 says: Those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
When you are rooted deeply into a body of believers, that is the place where you will flourish. It is not just about going to church on the weekend because it is the right thing to do. It is more about being growing where God has planted you. That is why you find that mature believers are those who know where they are supposed to be and don’t jump around from church to church trying to find the place that is most pleasing. Don’t be the sheep that leaves the flock and gets devoured off by themselves, stay right in the middle, serving and living in the place you were designed to fill.
Today I want to encourage you to stay connected with God’s people. If you have a church you regularly attend and serve at, keep serving. If you don’t, I strongly urge you to ask God to direct you to the church for you and to be planted there. The place that He has planned for you to be “planted”. It’s not always easy starting out, but it is the best place to stay accountable and to have a flourishing life. If you find yourself on the edges, take a step today toward reconnecting. Find a small group near you, where you can build meaningful relationships and share your journey. It’s not always comfortable at first, but staying planted in a community is where growth happens.
Don’t wander away from the ninety-nine and find yourself distant from the flock where God has placed you. When you stay connected, you’ll soon realize how much you depend on the encouragement of others—and, in turn, you’ll be able to lift up and encourage those going through similar struggles that you’ve already overcome. In God’s eyes, life is all about relationships. He desires for us to remain connected—to Him and to each other!
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 18:6-14
6“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.
9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
12 “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?
13 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.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
The Daily Dose 