Matthew 18:10-12
10 “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.
For the Son of Man came to save the lost.
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.
15 “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Reason out your responsibility.
So. A sheep is not worth as much as a cow.
And if a cow is lost in the old-time stampede to market - well you go and look and after a time - you give up. Because you can't endanger the herd for a few. A few of the herd are not going to make it to market.
We get so caught up in the mercy of God and life necessity to us - we forget the message.
Jesus lived his 3.5 years of ministry in a daily upheaval of Glory and problems people handed Jesus, attitudes and actions. Jesus did not stand outside the Temple, flap His arms daily, saying the Sanhedrin Council was unhappy with Him for these years. Jesus our Christ, didn't rush from His Resurrection to the Temple to stand in front of the Holy of Holies and Yell, "TADA."
The Point is. Sort of. David was by himself
as the Shepherd of his family flock
when the Prophet Samuel showed up and began to look how to do God's will...
David was that sheep out in the field about to be - Overlooked.
Today, our local Christian Radio station said divorce lawyers have reported divorce questions and meetings are up 34% since the Pandemic. People are in a profound mess. Our people are far more upset than we realized previously.
David was a young boy, and if he had gone home to his father Jesse and said, "Aww, I saved Baby Lambkins, but soo sorry the herd got eaten by the lions." (Archaeology says existed and David fought.) His Jesse Dad would have said, "Saved Baby Lambkins, that's Terrific, Son!"
David was a young boy, and if he had gone home to his father Jesse and said, "Aww, I saved Baby Lambkins, but soo sorry the herd got eaten by the lions." (Archaeology says existed and David fought.) His Jesse Dad would have said, "Saved Baby Lambkins, that's Terrific, Son!"
When you read the History of the Saints canonized, you find many unusual histories in their lives. And because the histories go back to the 1400s, you find many were literal shepherds. With the smell of sheep in their shepherding. Rural areas, like David, and alone. The isolation is something our generation understands in this Pandemic. You'd find they felt abused and isolated. You'd read the saints could be very young, with joy and ability, to give generously to their Church, they entered in triumphant at an early age. Amazingly, you'd read, St. Rita was transported to find that as a destitute widow, and loss of all her children, she was given the most meek and abused jobs to do at the nunnery.
Why was someone like St. Rita abused? The path of the Lord. She had been living such a humble existence in the middle of crime laden areas, humility was something God Himself had led her along in her life journey. God was using the circumstances to His Glory. He had prepared and prepares His Beloved to do the witness He prepares us to give. His Glory Overcomes Hardship.
If we needed a snap, happy jingle to remember this:
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't. Almond Joy has nuts, Mounds don't. However, today, we would have to say: Sometimes You Feel Like a Cow, other days a Sheep. Baa Humbug to Hooks.
Saints, in their literal history of literally shepherding, were known to take the tool of the shepherding, plant it in the ground, and go off to worship in Church with a prayer for the Lord to be The Supreme Shepherd.
The truth is the Bible is giving the Shepherds the ability to understand: God is ultimately responsible for their flock. He has given His Word Manifest - Jesus the Messiah - literally when shepherds make mistakes, like seeming to support abortion, The Bible explains His Way, Truth and Life.
This passage is about nicey appearances, personal responsibility, human upheaval and rudeness. Completely.
The Bible is about real life.
The Bible tells us God is God.
There is a time to flee. The Bible explains:
Sexual sin. Certainly, when 1 of 6 people feel they have been used or damaged, harmed sexually. (Doing STD tests while volunteering with Pro Life for 3.5 years, you find people think they can trust someone and then find mental games, emotional loss, sorrow and loss of innate self-esteem. Be careful out there!) Flee to Peace. Flee armies. Flee desolation. (Like Tsunami empty beaches, dead from plague crowds and war.) Flee strangers, or they could be angels. Flee idols, be sensible. Flee controversy, quarrels, envy, suspicion, constant friction = evil. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Flee fleeting sin.
Flee not when you are responsible for your people? No. Fleeing is for hired hands.
Flee the devil. Devil - lies, use God to command, take away the Word in your heart, traitor, oppression of people, deceit, make paths crooked instead of straight. Puffed with conceit. The devil seeks to cause falling into disgrace. Seeking Someone to devour (on FB!). To make hateful comments and plot. To consume and envy. Tear someone up, to scatter them.
God never tells us to flee from asking God for help or our needs.
Never flee asking God about our lives and thoughts.
Never be those passing by the injured Samaritan.
Never fail to Love.
Salvation is God's Desire. Salvation is in God's Hands.
We do what we can to love our neighbor as ourselves. Asking in Prayer for more Love.
Abba, Father,
We ask You to Live within us
to You,
all hearts are open
there are no secrets or hidden desires.
Dwell in those we Love.
Help us always to seek You First.
In Jesus Christ, we will finish well.
We pray for Ukraine, times are difficult and hopeful.
We pray the violence will stop here and in Your Good Creation.
We pray the horrible heat waves will end.
We ask for the return of good weather.
And ask Your Love and Mercy on the
many difficult challenges of healing from the Pandemic.
In Jesus Christ Amen Amen Amen
To You be the Glory.
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