Matthew 18:10-14 The Parable of the Lost Sheep
“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
Many times, we might read this story and think gratefully about the times Jesus has rescued us; however, there’s a corollary: Once we are rescued, we must go rescue others. Jesus has no hands and feet apart from ours. We have not been delivered from sin to congregate in comfortable groups but to be trained to reach others and rescue them as we have been rescued.
Following Jesus may mean going to dangerous places and encountering people with whom we would rather not associate. Several years ago, at a Chrisian Medical Dental Society meeting, I heard the testimonies of Christian doctors who had deliberately moved into inner city areas with their families to be light and salt in those dark places. These people had opened their homes to their neighbors and had started neighborhood Bible clubs for children, health clubs for teens and adults, and had been change agents in those communities.
On Facebook, we keep up with a missionary family working in Kiev, Ukraine, who have proved a major blessing to all those around them. Despite the horrors of war, this family has persisted in helping those around them, arranging for medical help, feeding, etc.
One of our supporting churches assists a group of 40 churches in the mountains of Guatemala. Through the efforts of this small church, this remote area now has a Christian radio station and several other facilities. One of the pastors of this church even suffered a heart attack while working in that part of Guatemala several years ago; yet, people from this church continue to raise funds and to encourage the Guatemalan Christians.
Historically, Jesus’ disciples have boldly moved into tragic situations to bring light into the darkness. Here are a few stories.
LILLIAN TRASHER (1887-1961) Lillian Trasher was a single American missionary who went to Egypt on faith with her sister and began caring for orphans and other disadvantaged groups. Working in Egypt for 50 years without a furlough, Lillian built a large orphanage that was caring for 1200 children at the time of her death in 1961. Lillian saved many children, especially females, who would have otherwise been drowned in the Nile as unwanted encumbrances.
George Mueller (1805-1898) Mueller founded orphanages in Bristol, England. “He cared for 10,024 orphans during his lifetime,[1][2] and provided educational opportunities for the orphans to the point that he was even accused by some of raising the poor above their natural station in British life. He established 117 schools which offered Christian education to more than 120,000.” (Wikipedia) At the same time, Mueller was doing these things, he was also heading a Scripture distribution society and helping support the China Inland Mission.
William Booth (1829-1912) Along with his wife, Booth founded the Salvation Army, which eventually grew to become one of the largest distributors of humanitarian aid in the world. Throughout its history, the Salvation Army has targeted the poor, the downtrodden, and those living in unspeakable conditions surviving by prostitution, theft, murder, etc. Today, the Salvation Army remains one of the most trusted groups in the world.
Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) After beginning Sunday morning classes for several hundred “shawlies,” factory girls in Belfast, Ireland and Manchester, England, Carmichael later moved to Dohnavur, India. Carmichael spent the rest of her life in India, rescuing children destined for temple prostitution or death and writing 35 books that continue to inspire Christians around the world. After suffering a fractured femur that failed to heal, Carmichael spent the rest of her life as an invalid but continued to hold prayer meetings and to write books until her death at the age of 83. “While serving in India, Carmichael received a letter from a young lady who was considering life as a missionary, asking, “What is missionary life like?” Carmichael wrote back, “Missionary life is simply a chance to die.”[10] (Wikipedia)
Mary Slessor (1848-1915) Raised in the slums of Dundee, Scotland, Slessor served as a Presbyterian missionary in the Cross River State area of Nigeria. While other missionaries remained in enclaves on the coast, Mary moved inland, living alone, and learning several languages. Mary single-handedly helped stop the vicious practice of killing twin infants as she spread Christianity. Sometimes, Slessor would wade through swamps with water up to her chin to rescue children. Slessor was so respected by local tribes that she was frequently called in to mediate disputes and would sit for hours knitting while she listened to all sides before issuing a judgment. At one point, the British government had the choice to send in 4,000 crack troops to quell a tribal conflict or sending in Mary Slessor. The government sent in Slessor, who settled the matter peacefully.
An old hymn expresses what I am trying to put across.
I Sing a Song of the Saints of God Lesbia Scott 1929 https://hymnary.org/text/i_sing_a_song_of_the_saints_of_god
1 I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.
2 They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and God’s love made them strong;
and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake,
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast:
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn’t be one too.
3 They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,
in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow You wherever You lead us, even if it is into slums, inner cities, or remote parts of the world. Help us to be light and salt wherever You send us and protect us as we go, so that Your Name will be glorified and lifted up as we rescue Your lost sheep. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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