Pursue the One

‘What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. (Matt18:12-14)

We are so exposed to world news and the troubles we feel powerless to affect the news. Ukraine, famines, raising crime rates, riots, global poverty. What happens is we become desensitised to the very world to which we are called be sensitive, to inhabit and live (Gen 1:28, 2:15). Crowded House in their song Don’t Dream It’s Over put it like this: “In the paper today tales of war and of waste but you turn right over to the TV page."

When we become desensitised in one area of our life it will spill over into the rest of our life: relationships, work, and even our worship. Our attitudes then become very self-focussed and we consider things in regards to our own personal benefit or impact.

Many of us will see and hear that the harvest field is ripe. We know that we are called to be ‘fishers of men’. We all know that there are many hundreds of thousands of people not believing in, or even heard of, Jesus. The magnitude of the problem has created a kind of paralysis. We say to ourselves 'what difference can I make to such a huge problem?'

The parable of the Lost Sheep stares into the face of this problem and is very familiar to many. The parable really should have a different title: “The Parable of the Pursuing Shepherd”. Take some time to listen to Rev Emily’s excellent talk: Click here for Sunday Live Church 23 April (go to 46mins for the talk).

When Jesus uses parable there is always an invitation to find ourselves within the parable. Here we see Jesus revealing not just the heart of God as a shepherd (Psalm 23) but also the heart he is looking for us to have as under-shepherds.

Jesus is showing us the single-minded determination of a shepherd who lost just one sheep. You were once the lost sheep. Jesus found you, lifted you on his shoulders and came home rejoicing. Now Jesus is inviting you to place yourself within the parable as the shepherd.

Do you remember the times when you were pursued by Jesus through someone else? Do you remember the determination and grace they had in not giving up on you? Maybe Jesus is relentlessly pursuing you now.

When most of us are looking at the ninety-nine (and being overwhelmed into inaction), Jesus is looking at the one and pursuing them. I firmly believe this is the heart of God and the heart of our Kingdom calling. Just to pursue the one until they are found.

Many of us know people who once followed Jesus but they have lost their way. God is calling you to find them, to relentlessly pursue them. Maybe some have become disaffected with the Church. Remember, the Church is the Body of Christ so the Church is part of the deal of faith. God is calling you to seek them, to relentlessly pursue them. There are people you will know who are spiritually searching. God is calling you to seek them, to relentlessly pursue them.

Don't be overwhelmed or distracted by the size of the task. Jesus wants you to pursue just one. Focus on the one.

I am reminded of a fantastic film called Hacksaw Ridge which shows us the relentless pursuit of the one. (I hope to have a film night one night to let us all see it). Here’s the key clip (Click here for the Hacksaw Ridge clip)

You can’t save the world you don’t know, but you can help save the one you do know. Individual people matter to God and therefore they matter to you.

Be a pursuer!

For Reflection:

Do you remember being a lost sheep and being found?

Who is the one person, outside of the church, that God is calling you to pursue?

What is the one thing you need to do now to start?

Have a blessed week.

Blessings

Fraser