I See What You Did There
[Jesus said,] “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’” – Luke 15:4-6 (NIV)
Okay Jesus. May I call you Jesus? I’m going to level with you. This seems like bad advice. From a shepherding perspective I mean. Go after the lost one, fine. But put the other sheep someplace safe. Don’t leave them in the open country! At the very least delegate somebody to guard the 99.
Following this advice seems like a surefire way to miss out on the big gains to chase the little gains. I respect what you’re doing, Savior wise. But I’m not going to just unthinkingly do whatever you say. I think I’ll file this parable under “take into consideration,” as in, “consider how best to ignore this advice.” I’m going to go do my own thing.
Now where was I? Ah yes, I was getting ready to go talk to our top pledger in coffee hour. Need to make sure they know how valuable they are … err … how valued they are, I mean. Once I’m done with that, I’ll chat up that nicely dressed young couple; I bet they’re church shopping. Excuse me sir, could you please move some of your shopping bags? There’s a hundred other people in here.
Oop!
Why are you throwing me across your shoulders? Where are you taking me? Who are all these people, and why are they rejoicing?
Prayer
God, thank you for binding my wandering heart to you.
Rev. John Edgerton is Senior Minister and CEO of Old South Church in Boston. He is the 21st Senior minister in the congregation’s over 350 year history.