Elephant in the Room — The Dysfunction in Our Churches - Thursday
Today’s Verse
Luke 15:4
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? (ESV)
When our kids were little, we decided to fulfill one of our many obligations as parents and took our kids to Disney World. As is always the case, it was crowded. In addition to our toddlers who could be on foot, we were pushing a stroller. I remember walking past a series of small structures meant to look like houses and storefronts, but sized just right for kids. The little buildings were open so kids could go inside. My boys spotted them and off they went! Before we knew it, we had lost sight of them both. Each little house I approached was filled with every other kid except ours. Time seemed to stand still as my wife and I frantically looked in every direction. I remember thinking that I would give anything just to find them! Finally, we spotted one of our boys, then the other. But in the time they were missing, every imaginable and unimaginable thought ran through our minds. The relief that came with finding and holding them was nothing short of euphoric, coupled with a sense of embarrassment and frustration with ourselves that we let the whole thing happen.
Aside from being relational and responsive, Jesus was relentless in His love for and pursuit of lost and broken people. I have no doubt that Jesus’ desire to seek and save His people is exponentially more intense than was my desire to locate my missing sons. But I was given a perspective about Jesus’ mission that I didn’t fully appreciate until some time after the Disney World experience. Jesus stopped at nothing, including death, to redeem people. In the time of Jesus, people were often seized in the midst of wars and used as slaves. But families with enough resources could “buy back” (redeem) their loved ones and bring them home. Jesus’ death on the cross was payment for our redemption. We’ve been redeemed (bought back) from the slavery of sin and death and rightfully returned to our home with the Father and His family, our family.
APPLICATION
Today’s verse paints a picture of Jesus pursuing the lost as long as it takes to find them. Do our hearts burn with the same kind of desire to reach our lost and broken friends? As much as we might pray for opportunity, the opportunities are already there. Perhaps it’s the courage to actually interact with them that we should pray for.
PRAYER
Lord, there are many people I already know who don’t know You. Give me the courage to love, care, and speak with Your voice.
