What do you think? If a man 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 say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
~ Matthew 18:12-14 ~
As Resurrection Sunday draws closer, the Monthly Message which seemed most fitting was to remember not just that Jesus died and was resurrected, but that His sacrifice for ALL was the result of the Father’s desire that ALL should come to Him.
The whole of Matthew 18 looks at humility and forgiveness from various angles. God, through Jesus’ teachings, sets some very serious standards. From running after the lost, to forgiving infinitely from the heart. Yet, He does not call us to be push-overs or doormats as he sets an example of how to approach someone who has “sinned against” us. We aren’t called to respond as an attack, rather, as grace-filled and concerned for the other person’s eternal standing while also protecting our own spiritual health.
“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!”
~ Matthew 18:7 ~
Spiritual health is Relational health. God knows we live in a broken world, full of strife and temptation. The enemy of our souls runs amuck and he works through other humans to try and disgrace us. It isn’t just that temptations are “necessary” but rather that they are inevitable and in this section, Jesus is saying ‘woe to the one who tempts others to sin’. As a result, we get the “plucking out” and “cutting off” hyperbole in order to demonstrate the seriousness of not just falling away or living falsely but also being the cause of the stumble. This is where Jesus points out how it would be more profitable to lose a piece of your body than to bear eternal guilt (and no, this is not advocating for self or others mutilation!! Again, it is hyperbole, a figure of speech). The point: sin must be dealt with drastically because of its deadly effects.
In the end, we come back to our opening point: God WANTS us with him. He LOVES us… so much, in fact, He brings His son into this world for each one of us…. To overcome the sting of death… death in this world which entered in the Garden, and death which comes for us, tempts us, draws us away like lost sheep. But Jesus finds us, invites us, carries us when we can’t walk, and fights for us. We are not alone when we surrender to His Gift and His Power. Instead, we are victors and part of the family of God.
God wants our hearts, not just our actions. He desires we carry His name and image into all we think, say, and do. Our walk can draw others to walk alongside as well. As Jesus shined bright in His life here, we should shine bright too. Relationship and reflection, this is the will of our Father.
If you have never trusted Jesus with your life, I invite you to do so now. You can visit this article at GotQuestions.org to learn how. As always, feel free to email me or contact me through social media (Instagram gets the quickest replies) if you have question or want to share your Commitment.
If you DO know Jesus, remember, He died because our Father in heaven wants that NO ONE should perish in eternity. Be bold in your faith, share with others, remember grace, forgiveness, and love as you speak truth and seek hope and eternity for others.
I have been working through reading a chapter-a-day in the book of Matthew through this Easter season. I built a guided Bible study packet you can use as well! It is great for any time of year, not just leading up to Resurrection Sunday. Click on image below or visit our “Resources” page to download your FREE copy today!
Blessings,
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