Everyone is the one in some way at some point.
Earlier this morning I read about a teacher who implemented a brilliant technique.
Every Friday afternoon this teacher asks her students to take out a piece of paper and write down the names of four children with whom they’d like to sit the following week.
The children know that these requests may or may not be honored. She also asks the students to nominate one student whom they believe has been an exceptional classroom citizen that week.
All ballots are privately submitted to her. And every single Friday afternoon, after the students go home, that teacher takes out those slips of paper, places them in front of her, and studies them. She looks for patterns.
Who is not getting requested by anyone else?
Who never gets noticed enough to be nominated?
Who had a million friends last week and none this week?
That teacher is looking for an exceptional student - it's just not the one we would think. She's looking for the one that is left out, the one being bullied, the one struggling to fit in.
This reminds me of Jesus' words in Luke 15:4-7.
The setting is similar to the cool kids at the lunch table looking down on the not-so-cool kids eating nearby. But in this case, it's the Pharisees and scribes grumbling that tax collectors and sinners are gathering to hear what Jesus had to say. "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent."
Let's own something right here and now. All of us have been that one sheep, estranged and lonely, left out, or wandering off of our own accord.
It has happened to the down and out as well as the up and in!
The CEO in the corner office on the top floor quietly laments to herself, "I am so lonely. I don't really feel like I have anyone with whom to share my burdens." The hourly worker picking up a second job in that same company recounts how life got so hard and the road so lonely since his wife of 22 years passed away last year. Here's the great news - Jesus, the great shepherd, notices you. You matter to him!
Points to Ponder
The great shepherd not only notices but goes after the estranged one regardless of the way they got there. Sure, we understand, that God goes after the lonely one who got to that point by no fault of their own. That kind of grace makes sense. But what about when you find yourself isolated and confused by the mess you created?
Does God's grace really extend to you? The resounding answer is YES! His grace has no endpoint on this side of the grave. He is pursuing you today in your loneliness, despair, discouragement, bitterness, and apathy even when no one else can see it! He's close by. Look for him. Listen for his voice.
When he finds us, he picks us up, brings us home, and calls everyone together to celebrate. Here this now by the Holy Spirit, all of us need community. You cannot live your life as a loner.
You cannot execute your God-given assignments to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth isolated from others. Why? God designed us to be shepherded. We need people who are investing in us with mentorship, accountability, and care. And the converse is true as well. God designed us to shepherd others. We are designed to provide mentorship, accountability, and care.
Application
Take a quarter, dime, nickel, and penny and place them in your pocket. Notice those that are not at the table today.
Notice the one who is not invited out to the after-work event. Notice your child who is struggling.
Take a few moments to strengthen that relationship today. Every time you do, transfer a coin. Let's make a difference in people’s lives today!
Prayer
Father, we thank you today for loving the world so much that you gave your only son. You went after us even when we were not interested in following after you. Today we submit to you as our shepherd. Teach us. Correct us. Pour into us directly by Holy Spirit and the Word, as well as through the mentors in our lives.
And we humbly look to shepherd others today. Open our eyes to the one who is estranged, struggling, alone. Forgive us for not noticing them so often. That needs to change. And today it begins. We will go after the one just as you went after us! In the name of Jesus, the great shepherd, AMEN!