THE LOST SHEEP…5/28/08
by SteveThe 15th chapter of Luke is my favorite in all the gospels…the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son. I read recently that we almost always miss the point of the lost sheep story because of this image we carry around in our heads of the good shepherd carrying a fluffy little lamb.
Well, fluffy little lambs seldom leave their mothers. The sheep that will stray is that cantankerous old ram always running through or under the fence, always looking for a way out, then ending up somewhere lost, filthy, and hungry. That’s the sheep the good shepherd goes after…the troublesome one. He’s willing to leave 99 perfectly well-behaved sheep in order to find the lost one that smells to high heaven. And when he finds it, he doesn’t hold his nose, but picks it up and puts it on his shoulder and carries it home and says, “Let’s have a party!”
The lost sheep didn’t deserve that kind of treatment. That’s why it’s grace. And Jesus said that God is like that.
RSS
Hmmm…I guess we teachers do this all the time.
Do what all the time? Pick up smelly old sheep?
Wayward children, Steve.
No comment on their odor…
STEVE, THIS GOES RIGHT ALONG WITH STORY IN MATT. 25, REACHING OUT TO THE LEAST OF THESE. HOW MANY OF US WILL GO FIND THE LOST SHEEP OR THE LEAST OF THESE????
Steve,
I’m struggling with this blog today because that ram comes into our society in many different forms. There are too many people out there that after awhile are feeling not accepted or are pushed off into yet another of our societies social injustices. I’m not sure why but some are not feeling Jesus’ love and acceptance. Even with knowledge of grace are we celebrating or keeping God in our little box? My hope is reitterated by Tex Sample from Martin Luther King Jr. “How long – Not long” will we overcome these injustices and celebrate the Kingdom today! Maybe then that ram won’t need to roam and will find peace within his relationships regardless of how much he might smell.