Always leave the ninety-nine to find the ONE.
You have 100 sheep but lose 1. You still have 99%. Are you content? I mean 99% is a large majority. So just forget about the 1? It’s seem like more work than it’s worth, right?
No! A better question, what if you were that 1? How would you feel if you were lost and nobody came searching for you? You’d probably feel pretty scared, alone, and as if no one cares? You might even feel hopeless or doomed. No matter what you’re feeling, I can imagine that is something nobody wishes to experience.
You might be wondering what I’m talking about…
Here’s what Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:
12 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? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this parable since being accepted to the World Race. I’ve been asked questions over and over on why I’m going and heard comments of disapproval. People have said things like… “It’s dangerous in those countries! You shouldn’t go.” “Why do you need to go? Someone else will. You’ll miss a lot while you’re gone, you know?” “What about college, your family, your friends, your church, etc?” “What if something happens to you?”
Well, I have a few questions myself… What about the 1? Why should I keep the only thing capable of saving from people who are in desperate need of being saved? Am I willing to give up comfort and safety for the possibility of rejoicing over even just one who was once lost but now is found?
Picture this! The 99 is the church, more specifically it’s my college group. It’s pretty comfortable, safe, and familiar.. When I’m with my college group I’m with my friends. No..*My family. I’m encouraged every time I walk through the doors, and even outside of the doors, with prayer, text messages, and coffee dates. When I’m with the 99, I’m surrounded by other believers. They show me love, grace, and compassion, they remind me where my identity lies, they pray for me, they speak truth into my life, and they challenge me. In a way it’s easy being with the 99 because I know them and I’m known by them. I’m ‘safe’ with the 99. So… Why would I ever want to leave?
No matter how you look at 99%, it’s still missing one piece. The one is worth it. The one is His. The one is valuable to Jesus so it should be valuable to us, too. The 1 represents the lost, the oppressed, the less-fortunate, and the often forgotten. The 1 are the people who’ve never heard the name of Jesus and who have never been told the Good News. That one is valuable enough to drop EVERYTHING to search for. To find the 1 you have to go outside the safe boundaries to be amongst the poor, the lost, the marginalized, to where you’ll find the abandoned, to live alongside them and to show them the love of Christ.
In August I leave my normal life. I leave everything and everyone behind to travel around the world sharing Jesus. So many people want to focus on the money or the time but I want to focus on the people I get to love and share Jesus with.
There was once a time when I was the 1, a time where I was lost and had never heard the Gospel. There was also a time when someone shared the Good News with me for the very first time, and even several people shared it with me over time until I finally came to know Jesus. Once I was lost but now I am FOUND. The gospel wasn’t brought to me so that I may be content with keeping it to myself, but it was brought to me so I can share it with others.
The Lord died for each and every one of us, no matter our race, social status, geographical location, popularity, or the amount of money we have. He loves each one of us, each individually. When one sinner comes to repentance, the angels in heaven rejoice. The ninety-nine were already safe. The one was lost and in danger. Jesus came to save the lost.
My prayer today and everyday is for my life to look more like yours, Jesus. Lord, I’m nervous about leaving in August, and even a little scared, but I know I won’t be alone. Give me the courage and strength to leave the 99 in August in search of the 1. Use my life to mimic that of the Shepard who had 100 sheep, but left the 99 to look for the 1 who went astray. God, help me to never think of anyone as too lost or beyond hope. Help me to lay my own life aside to put others before myself. Help me to never be slow to help. Keep my eyes fixed on you throughout this whole journey. Guide me, Lord.
