God's Embracing Love

A friend I was talking to recently had shared something that had happened the previous day that seemed like the proverbial “last straw” in her life. She'd been facing a series of traumatic events; this one had pushed her beyond what she felt like she could cope with.

“Does God ever forsake people?” she asked plaintively.” I feel forsaken.”

Have you ever been in that place in your life? Are you there right now? Does God ever forsake his children?

As my daughter would say, “that would be a hard no!”  But where do we go in those moments of despair and desolation, those moments when we feel lost and abandoned.

Jesus' Concern for the Lost

We've been leaning deeply into Jesus’ parables about the Kingdom of heaven. Today I'm inviting you into a story that focuses on the king of this Kingdom. Jesus told several parables based on things that were lost. We are looking at the story usually identified as “The Parable of the Lost Sheep”.

This story is recorded by both Matthew and Luke with different contexts.  Matthew sets his account in the context of Jesus’ love for and concern for children, the “little ones”. (Matthew 18:12-14) Luke’s account focuses on Jesus responding to the accusation of the Pharisees and teachers of the law to his choice of “welcoming sinners and eating with them”. (Luke 15:4-7)

Let’s begin with the way Jesus invites us to partner with Him in this story: “What do you think?” Matthew has Him asking. Luke begins, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.”

Wow! One hundred sheep! That’s a big flock. Would you even notice if one was missing? Don’t they all look alike? Don’t they all sound the same? But this man does notice.

As we enter this story, I invite you to sit quietly. Surrender to the presence of God. Read these words, not just as words but as the story God is inviting you into. Hear God's heart.

I wonder if we have tended to think of this sheep as someone who never has known God as Shepherd. But in this context, the sheep obviously is one of the flock. It is missing. It has wandered off. Pause a moment to wonder why? And place yourself in this story. What would cause you to wander or to be lost outside the flock, the group?

“Until he finds it.” This suggests that there may be time involved here. But this shepherd will not give up on the missing sheep, no matter what the reason for its being lost.

Luke goes on to tell us, “And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulder and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me! I have found my lost sheep’. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over the one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

 Matthew records, “And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”

Back to our original question: Does God ever forsake his children?

Can you ever wander outside God’s desire for and willingness to search for you to return you to himself?

Do you see yourself at this moment as one of the “little ones” or as a “sinner?”

I wonder if we have tended to classify “sins” rather than to realize anything that separates us from God and our expressed trust in him is sin.

Whichever word describes how you see yourself right now, will you allow God to pick you up and take you to a place of safety with him?

Forgiven.

Restored.

Welcomed back with joy.

Accepting the fact that you as an individual matter immensely to God.

Jesus’ Focus on the One

Jesus repeatedly demonstrated how important the individual was. He gave his full attention so often to just one person. Often his wisdom pearls were shared with only one person.

Think of Nicodemus’ visit to Jesus by night. How Jesus received him and welcomed him. And how it was to Nicodemus that Jesus shared the challenge that we must be born again of the Spirit.  And how Jesus valued his questions and shared truth with him, including one of the most quoted Scriptures, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:1-21)

Think of the woman at that well in Samaria. Jesus crossed the traditions of his upbringing and spoke with this woman, gave value to her questions, and shared many pearls of wisdom including this one: “The time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” (John 4:4-42)

Think of Zacchaeus up that tree...the hated tax collector, who had become wealthy at the expense of his fellow Jewish people. Jesus not only pauses to notice him but invites himself to stay at Zacchaeus’ house! (Luke 19:1-10)

Jesus’ Heart for the Faithful

So, the one is important. But what about the ninety-nine?  

We used to sing a chorus at our church about the ninety-nine who were left while God went after the one who had wandered away.  It is a beautiful song with a catchy tune:

"Oh the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still You give Yourself away

Oh the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God." *

The focus of the lyrics is on being the one who was the lost sinner. As the voices around me happily claimed the position of the lost one, I used to wonder about being part of the ninety-nine left behind. My tendency has always been to run to God when trouble comes, not to run away. Aren't those of us who stay faithfully not important also? Is that overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God for us too?

So, I wonder about the man in Jesus’ story leaving the sheep alone in the open country or on the hills. And when we put ourselves into this story, what does it say about God and about us who are faithful? Is there a possibility that God is entrusting us with being on our own without his presence, knowing that we won’t go in panic (as sheep are so prone to do!), and scatter? That we will stay in community with one another and support and provide for the needs of others? That there is safety in being together.

Is there love expressed in that trust? Is this the trust you give your beloved child the first time you leave them by themselves at home alone?

This is a Selah moment—pause and let God’s presence embrace you.

And then, beyond that, can we be happy that God cares so much about the one that was lost, who may have deliberately wandered off, seeking something beyond what the shepherd is providing? And then, that as he brings that one back, can we join in the celebration and the joy? Can we accept that there is more rejoicing in heaven over this one sinner repenting, than over the rest of us who have stayed living rightly? Ouch! Sometimes that can hit hard.

Is it enough to be faithful?

Is there a reward in knowing that, as Paul says, having done all, we stand firm? (Ephesians 6:13) Is it enough to know that you are loved deeply?

I know for me it feels like enough.

To be loved.

To be the beloved.

To be accepted.

To be able to feel safe in God’s presence.

It is enough.

*Reckless Love Songwriters: Ran Jackson / Cory Asbury / Caleb Culver  (c) 2017