Search for the one

Shane Claiborne met a man on death row, and the conversation they had laid out the (uncomfortable) truth behind the parable of the lost sheep (see Matthew 18:12-14): 'He confessed to having done something terrible, which he will regret for the rest of his life. But then it got even more interesting. He told me the story of his trial. During the course of his sentencing, the victim's family argued that his life should be spared, that he should not be sentenced to death. "They were Christians... so they talked a lot about mercy," he told me matter-of-factly, as if every Christian was against the death penalty. He went on, "They believed that Jesus came not for the healthy but for the sick. And they argued that God may not be done with me yet. So I was spared the death penalty because of the victim's family." Finally he said, "I wasn't a Christian then. But you better believe that I am one now."'

What if our role isn't to sheepishly sit out the search, but to set out with the shepherd? To go searching with Jesus for the lost ones, and bring them back with uncomfortable acts of grace like the Christian in Shane's story. Wouldn't that be something (see 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)!



So what now? If you're feeling like the lost sheep - know God is wholeheartedly fixed on finding you. Why not pray? Ask God to show you where he is in your life right now. Tell him that you're serious about turning your life to him, if you can truly say that.





— SCRIPTURE —

'He will...go to look for the lost sheep.' Matthew 18:12 NCV
— SOULFOOD —

Eze 40:10-42:20, Matt 20:1-16, Ps 139:1-6, Pro 15:25-27