Of Course.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually 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 any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.” (Matthew 18:10-14)

“They’re just ninety-nine ‘ones’ anyway.” –Andrew Palau

During Sunday’s sermon Andrew Palau noted that, as we expend great effort in seeking the lost, we must remember that all of us at one point were lost. There is no reason for those of us in the “ninety-nine” to hold animosity toward the one who has not yet returned to the fold of God.

In Matthew 18:10, we are warned: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones.” Who are the little ones? They are not just children in terms of chronological age. In response to His disciples’ question about greatness, Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3, emphasis mine)

Little children sometimes have a tendency to wander, and we find this is also true in our faith-journey as children of God. Sometimes we take wrong turns. Sometimes we try to operate in realms where we lack understanding. Sometimes we just, as Isaiah 53:6 says, “go our own way.” And as we wander, our gracious Lord seeks us out in love, and He gently corrects us and leads us back home. Who does He use to correct us? Angels. Ministers. Family. Friends.

Since we are called not to despise the wandering sheep, how do we treat the little ones? What is our evangelism strategy for them? As Andrew spoke on Sunday, he recalled how his own years of wandering from the faith were addressed by his parents and family. There was patience. There was love. There was prayer. There was testimony. Their word to him was: We love you. Jesus loves you. Let us share His grace with you. And, though the process took years, Andrew was reconciled to God.

Have you noticed someone wandering from the fold? Don't despise them. Leave the ninety-nine. Seek the one.

God, I was the “one” once, and You sent people to rescue me. Please give me the grace to do the same for others. Cause me to pour Your love into them and to point the way back to You. I ask this in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Today’s Matthew 18:10-14 reference is from the The Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

All other Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.