Lost

‘Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost. (Matthew 18:10-14, NRSV)

Are the sheep that are in the fold in danger? They could be but there is safety in numbers. Now yes a wolf could come in and scare a group and get a sheep. But the idea here is that Jesus cares for those who have left the fold and are searching for greener pastures.

He cares for the wanderer so much that He is willing to leave the fold on the mountain and go searching for the one that is lost. He will risk everything, in fact He already did. He gave His life for the lost sheep…

So we can not despise or look down upon those who are not in the fold, because once you were not in the fold. But because Jesus loved you enough to go looking for you, you are now here. So look on those who are searching for greener pastures with love and help them to find our great shepherd!

High Priest

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16, NRSV)

The high priest was the one who stood as the mediator between the people and God. He was the one who offered the sacrifices for the people and went into the Holy of Holies to be with God for the people.

And we have the greatest high priest anyone could ask for. He has suffered with us and knows our pain and our weaknesses. He knows the trials and tribulations we face. He knows what it is to live in this world.

So lean on your high priest and trust in the grace and mercy He gives to us, and know He will never leave us or forsake us.

Brothers and Sisters!

It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, ‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’ And again, ‘I will put my trust in him.’ And again, ‘Here am I and the children whom God has given me.’ Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. (Hebrews 2:10-18, NRSV)

We are co heirs with Christ of the kingdom.

And in order for Him to understand us, He was made to suffer like us.

You see we are all afraid of death. This has been an on going issue with humans since the very beginning. We are afraid of what we don’t know and death is one of those big things.

But here is the comfort in all of life. You are a brother or sister to Christ! He knows what it is to be human and to suffer here on earth. He knows what it is like to follow our Father in heaven in this place. He understands your pain and trials!

Plus the comfort of death is He knows all about it. He has been there and gone through it. He did not come back and tell us all about it, but He assures us He will walk through it with us.

So fear not about what we don’t know, for He is with us and will never leave us or forsake us.

If…

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’ Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’ Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” ’ Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. (Matthew 4:1-11, NRSV)

Bread, pinnacle and kingdoms of this world! What would you do?

Satan tells Jesus He doesn’t have to suffer the hunger. If He is truly the son of God, He can turn the stones all around Him to bread and eat. Heck why not fillet minion!

And then Satan takes Him to the pinnacle of the temple, the closest point in Jewish understanding from earth to heaven. This is the highest place anyone can go without ascending into heaven. And Satan tells Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself off… ” You will not be harmed.

And then Satan offers Him the kingdoms of this world, which if He is the Son of God are truly His anyway, right…

But you see the biggest word and most intriguing word in this passage is if. It makes us think that Satan is not sure who Jesus is. Like he is asking Jesus if He really is the Son of God.

But Satan is not asking, he is affirming who Jesus is. You see in Greek the word for if, also means since. So to me this passage is Since you are the Son of God, turn these stones to bread and jump off the highest place on earth because you will not be hurt.

Satan wants Jesus to worship him, and that is what he wants from us as well, by questioning who Jesus is. Satan knows and we can be sure that Jesus is the Son of God and He does walk with us in out journey!

So since He is with you, go and share His grace. And don’t question that!

What God wants…

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. (Isaiah 58:6-9a, NRSV)

What God wants…

God wants us to loose the bonds of injustice. He wants us to speak out for those who have no voice or no representation. We need to help those who are oppressed in anyway to be set free.

God wants us to share with those in need, to feed the hungry, to give those without shelter shelter. We need to give clothing to those who need it and not make ourselves unavailable just because we don’t get along with someone.

We need to look out for the needs of the other, rather than making life about the unholy trinity of me, myself, and I.

God is calling is to be His hands and feet in the world and to do that it is not about us, but about the other.