“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
We did during the year at some stage discuss this. Who really goes after that one? I suppose it depends what it is. You would not bother about sweets, pegs, pebbles etc etc. However for the really serious stuff you would go after that one.
I pondered this verse a lot this year .... but have found myself questioning during the past 3 months who is the person / are the people responsible for going after that one?
People drift for many reasons ..... disillusion, disappointment, questioning, questions with no answers, lifestyle, hypocrisy of others ...the list is pretty endless and diversified.
And when someone who is deeply entrenched in their religion finds themselves a tad disillusioned because of something .... and no it is not me before everyone gets into a flurry ....... but continues to maintain that religious dedication whilst drifting away ..... whose job does it become to go after that one sheep before it is totally lost ..... to search and bring it back ..... to search until it is found?
There are 2 ways of looking at this in my mind - the one is a family of families who make a concerted, non-judgmental effort with insight and gentleness to bring this person back to the other "99" or do people say "bugger you" and just let that person slip away.
Which one are you. Ask yourself. And be honest in your answer.
Then go back and read Luke 15:4 ... I think God wanted us to be caring and inclusive of all.
Food for thought
Till soon
