Good morning! I remember as a child how difficult it was for me to share. Especially, candy or potato chips when there were only a few left. It would never fail, I would be down to the last two or three pieces of candy or chips and someone would ask for the second to last one or even the very last chip. Of course, my fingers were filled with chocolate, or sugar, or the nice powder from eating the chips, and my mouth watered in anticipation of that last bite. It did not matter if I had eaten 99% of the bag of candy or chips, the last bite or the last chip was mine, and I wanted it sometimes more than I wanted the first bite. Can you relate? I know this is a bit of a stretch from the scripture we will read today, but you will understand as we read about Jesus’ encounter and perspective.

Bible Verse  – Matthew 18:12-14 NLT
¹² “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? ¹³ And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! ¹⁴ In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”

REFLECTION
This week we read about the importance of child like faith, humility and spirit; welcoming a child or children to draw near to God without pushing them away or causing them to sin and finally yesterday, Jesus warned us not to look down on the children – that children are protected, “that even their angels are always in the presence of my Heavenly Father.” v.10

In the verses today, Jesus is the man who has the hundred sheep. In this illustration we are all sheep. Jesus will leave the ninety-nine sheep on the hills (not in the valley) and go out and search for the one that is lost.  Jesus’ desires/rejoices over the last one more, than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away. Does that mean he loves the ninety-nine any less? The answer is, no. He loves us all. He doesn’t want any of his children/sheep to perish. He especially doesn’t want to lose the little children – they are important to God.

So here are my questions for you:

• Will you allow Jesus to use you?
• Will you go after the ‘one’ who is lost and bring them back to the fold or will you keep your relationship with Jesus to yourself?
• Will you be careful to care for His little children and lead them to Christ and not steer them away?

Brothers and sisters, may I challenge you today to share the gospel message with the “one” (those who have wandered/strayed away) and continue to encourage the ninety-nine.

Prayer
Father God, thank you for your message today. Lord, thank you for the demonstration of your love and faithfulness toward us. Lord, thank you for leaving the ninety-nine and for coming for us. Lord, we didn’t deserve it, we don’t deserve it, yet you came for us because you love us. Thank you for your unfailing love. Lord, continue to equip us to seek the lost, least and the last. Lord, help us not to harbor resentment against those who have decided to wander off like sheep who have gone astray. Help us to understand our purpose in the midst of confusion, chaos and times we want to wish on others what we believe they deserve. Lord, please don’t give us what we deserve. Forgive us Lord for falling short of obedience to you. Lord, call us back to you. Draw us near. Give us ears to hear and understand your truth above the world’s truth. Teach us not to settle for the world’s acceptance, but to walk in the acceptance that you freely give. Lord, we accept you as the Lord and Savior of our lives today, we surrender ourselves and our agenda to you. Lead us, Lord.

Lord, we pray for the woman who is in the hospital and is unresponsive. Lord, we ask that you touch her body and give her the strength and rest that she needs. Lord, she has been through a lot over the past 12 months. You know her heart and what she needs today. Lord, be with the medical providers as they provide care and a treatment plan. Lord, be with her family. Comfort her children and help them to make care decisions that are best for their mom. Lord, comfort their heart and give them the peace that they need. Lord, we praise and thank you for the woman who is recovering from a stroke. Lord, we pray for continuous healing, strength, recovery of speech and memory, and adjustments to new medical treatments. Lord, we thank you for extending her life and we ask that you continue to provide the medical treatment that she needs. Lord, we continue to pray for the mother who had a procedure last week and we ask for you to touch her and her heart. Lord, heal her body and give the doctors discernment on how to treat her. Lord, we pray for the woman battling lupus, and the other woman battling lupus and cancer. Lord, we ask for you to touch and heal them. Be with them as they undergo treatments this month. Give them the strength that they need to endure and overcome the medication and treatment they will receive. Lord, renew their bodies and make them whole. Lord, we lift up each reader and ask that you hear and answer their prayers.

Lord, we lift up the women’s retreat to you. Lord, as we finalize plans tonight we ask for your presence, direction, and discernment. Lord, be with each speaker and let your Holy Spirit speak through them. Lord, we pray for the women who will be in attendance and we ask that you prepare their hearts and minds to receive you and your word. Lord, remove barriers that would prevent them from attending and keep us all safe. May we all be changed as we encounter your presence and may those who have wondered away from you be found.

In the name of Jesus, amen!

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