Do you think there is MORE rejoicing in heaven over finding ONE stray sheep than over the whole church getting smarter through Bibles study, having better marriages, having great children's programs, and all the rest of the stuff the 99 do for themselves?Would you support your pastor if he said, "Don't come to service this week unless you come with a lost sheep over your shoulders?"
Do you think it's about the 99? About you and your Christian friends...the 99? Or is it about them, the 1?
“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? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing." (Luke 15:4,5)
Our problem isn't new. In Ezekiel's time he gave a pointed, heart wrenching observation that is still very true today. He said that the church had fed herself, had become fat and the lost sheep were wandering the hills with no one looking. (Ez 34:1-6) But the power of the appeal was not that it came from Ezekiel but that it was from our loving God, and for Him... it was personal.
"My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them."
It's not about us, we're fat enough... it's about them.
-BC
-BC
(To hear the 9/27 Gathering message "The 99 or the 1?" click HERE)
1 - read/write comments:
Last nights Gathering msg on this was absolutely amazing. Couldn't have given a better mission statement for the Church and it's purpose. Oh, and it was His msg, not ours. So I'm thinkin we (meaning the church as a whole) should all finally get to it and see what amazing things happen.
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.