Devotions
Helz
Statistics
Matthew 18.12-14
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.
Reflect
Jesus begins by asking for his disciples’ opinions: ‘What do you think?’ Which part of this story would have stirred you the most had you been amongst the twelve? Is it the dedication of the shepherd, how he instinctively knew that one of his sheep was missing, despite having another ninety-nine around him? Or his determination to find the straying animal and return it to the fold? Or even his rejoicing that the lost sheep is found? Take a moment to reread the passage and see what jumps out at you.
The reading today is only three short verses, but we receive a powerful message. Anybody who has ever had any experience of working with sheep knows that they seem committed to getting themselves into trouble. On our recent trip to Scotland, we drove off the tiny island ferry in the pitch black, trying to navigate our way around the windy, narrow roads with no streetlights. Going around one corner, we came across a number of sheep lying in the middle of the carriageway. Yep, they seem to have a death wish!
Would a shepherd know he had lost a sheep? How long would he spend checking that he hadn’t missed one, or making sure that one wasn’t sitting on top of another when he counted? Would he really put himself out to search the wilderness for the missing creature? Would he really carry the missing sheep back and celebrate its return, instead of scolding it for getting lost?
If we look at the story logically, it doesn’t make any sense statistically. Throughout life, if you have a hundred of anything, then statistically you’d expect to lose a few along the way. The shepherd still has 99% of what he started with, and (especially with sheep), most would consider that a very high success rate.
The shepherd shows us that God’s love for each of us goes beyond statistics. God does not see us simply as part of a collective, but as unique, much-loved individuals, each and every one being precious to God in our own right. Despite the other well-behaved, conformist 99% of ‘sheep’, the shepherd places utmost importance on finding the lamb that has wandered.
Like the shepherd, it causes God great anguish when one sheep goes ‘astray’ or is pushed out. God’s kingdom is for all, and it is God’s wish that not one of us will be lost. There are individuals in our communities who we know are pushed away from church, or reject Christianity, perhaps because they belong to a marginalised group, or are ostracised because of their lifestyle. These sheep are missing from the fold, and it hurts God. Every one of us has a special place in Jesus’ heart, and yet society continues to reject those who need God’s love the most.
How do you see yourself in the story? Have you wandered away? Have you been pushed out? Or are you in the fold, trusting the shepherd to return, safe in the knowledge that if it were you who was lost, he would scour the wilderness for you?
As Christians, we should make it part of our mission with Christ to ensure that no-one is excluded from God’s love. We should join with the shepherd in celebrating and rejoicing when one who was lost is found and returned to our family. We should strive to make sure that none of God’s beloved ‘little ones’ should question their own unique value, worth, and place in God’s heart.
Photo by Deng Xiang on Unsplash
Pray
Heavenly God,
Remind me that I am more precious to you than I can even understand, that each and every individual is more precious to you than we can imagine. When I feel vulnerable, allow me to see that I am cherished by you. Seek me and guide me back to you when I feel lost.
Show me how to help bring others back into the fold and give me the opportunity to share your love with those who feel rejected, oppressed, marginalised, or left out.
Thank you for sending us Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who taught us that each of your lambs is not a statistic, and that none of your little ones should be lost.
Amen
and then