Today’s Podcast
Today’s Bible reading plan:
Read it in a year – Exodus 13-16
see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)
Today’s Devotional
Matthew 18:10-14
Jesus: Make sure that you do not look down on the little ones, on those who are further behind you on the path of righteousness. For I tell you: they are watched over by those most beloved messengers who are always in the company of My Father in heaven. The Son of Man has come to save all those who are lost. A shepherd in charge of 100 sheep notices that one of his sheep has gone astray. What do you think he should do? Should the shepherd leave the flock on the hills unguarded to search for the lost sheep? God’s shepherd goes to look for that one lost sheep, and when he finds her, he is happier about her return than he is about the 99 who stayed put. Your Father in heaven does not want a single one of the tripped, waylaid, stumbling little ones to be lost.
What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?
When I read Jesus’ words today, a familiar quote came to mind. “Christians are the only Army that shoot their wounded.” That’s not really true. We’re not the only ones. If you’ve worked in the big corporate world, you know that as soon as you’re wounded you’re left behind to die. Nurses will tell you their profession shoots their wounded and eat their young. Or how about politics? One false move there,…well, maybe not. We seem to thrive on dirt these days and no one seems to care when our politicians falter.
What is it about us that sometimes causes us to forget about that one lost sheep out there that so desperately needs our help? Why don’t we seek out that single tripped, waylaid, stumbling little one and bring them back to the fold? Instead, we seem to leave them in the cold to fend for themselves and maybe they will come back, or better yet, we pray they will get back, but in another church.
What is it that causes us to shy away from those within our own ranks when they falter?
I think there are probably several things that we could mention. First, we often don’t know what to say. It’s easy for us to pull out the 4 Spiritual Laws or the Road to Redemption or any number of pamphlets and hawk them to complete strangers, but when our brothers and sisters fall within our community, it’s not so easy to wrap our arms around them and use those same words. Inside, we sometimes think they feel harsh or cold. They are not. We sometimes forget we need to share the good news inside our house just as much as we do outside. Because those inside the house grew up with us, we become familiar with them, they are close friends, we forget all of us are sinners and must be saved through God’s grace.
Second, I think sometimes we think, like leprosy, their fall to temptation is contagious. We’re afraid if we get too close, we might end up doing the same things, falling into the same traps. So we shy away not knowing that God will protect us from the evil one when we ask Him and keep our eyes focused on Him instead of the world’s treasures.
Third, I think sometimes we don’t want to spend the time and energy it takes to bring someone back into the fold. Remember Jesus illustration about the lost sheep? That takes tremendous effort to go out into the dark where bandits, wild animals, stumbling blocks, cliffs, rivers, mountains, and all sorts of other things you can begin to name get in the way of finding and helping that lost sheep. We know it will take effort and sometimes we’re just plain too lazy to put out the effort needed to go out and help that lost one.
Fourth, I think we sometimes take sides and push one side away. We forget that both the victim and the perpetrator are souls Jesus died to redeem. Is it easy to love them both? Not always, but Jesus did. And if we are going to be like Him, we must love both side, forgive both side, restore both sides. Sometimes that’s really hard to do in small churches and large churches. But that’s the message Jesus gives us.
Fifth, I think sometimes we look at the fallen and say to ourselves, I’m worse than he is. We look inside our own heart and find that we are not where we should be in our relationship with God. We find we too have fallen, but perhaps not in such a public, outward display as the one who others have pushed aside. We are far from God, but our pride keeps us from falling on our face before Him and begging for His forgiveness and getting our relationship right with Him so that we can then help others to come to Him.
I know there are more than these five reasons why we are timid in reconciling and restoring our fallen Christian brothers and sisters. My prayer is that we will soon throw off the label the outside world has given us. As I said at the first, we really are not the only organization that shoots its wounded, but shouldn’t the church, of all places, be the place to find restoration and hope when we fail. Pray that God will make you and your church a place of redemption and restoration for all.
Remember Jesus forgave those Roman soldiers who flogged Him, put a crown of thorns on His head, crucified Him, and pierced His side with a spear. Can’t we help our brothers and sisters find their way back to Him?
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.