Pray, Seek, and Help the Straying

N.T#216 "Pray, Seek, and Help the Straying" 

Jan. 4, 2024 

Matthew 18-Part 6

LET IT GLOW

In verses 12-14, we have the story of the lost sheep. If a man has a 100 sheep and 1 of them wanders away, what will he do? Won't he leave the 99 others on the hills and go out to search for the 1 that is lost? If he finds it, he will rejoice over it more than over the 99 that did not go astray.

Astray means cause to roam (from safety, truth, or virtue); deceive; err; seduce; wander; be out of the way.

Shepherds are known for their dedication to all their sheep and for their diligence in seeking out even one that has wandered away, gotten sick, or been injured. (verse 12) We are to have compassion like a good shepherd that would not let it be an annoyance but a priority and a passion to minister to the person gone astray. We are not to consider how much it would cost us to help that one in need. 

Are we available to go help the one person who has wandered away from church, who has been deceived by false teachers, one who has been seduced into sin, or strayed from the Truth, Jesus? No one is too young, too old, too lost, too sinful, too insignificant, too unsophisticated, or too poor to be valued. 

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Is there someone who needs the love of Jesus poured on them? Has one strayed from the Word that needs it?

LET IT GROW

And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. (verse 13)

The shepherd rejoices when he finds that lost sheep. So does our Good Shepherd rejoice whenever His straying child returns back to Him. 

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (verse 14)

That is good news for the parent of a straying child, for the faithful church member who sees a straying member, for the prayer warrior who continues to pray for the stray. Don't give up or give in, don't quit loving them back to Jesus.

LET IT GO

Strength arises when we wait upon the Lord.

You are the Everlasting God; You won't grow faith nor grow weary.

Lift us up on wings like eagles. 

Pour Your amazing grace upon us sheep.

You can do anything.