“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Luke 15:3-5

In this parable, the one of great value is the one who has strayed the farthest from home, the odd one of the hundred, the one for whom no one is looking. Quickly forgotten, he is left to question his own worth as he realizes no one is pursuing him. What an awful discovery as he looks over his shoulder and dreams of unconditional love calling his name from behind. How devastating to realize that the ninety-nine are happy without him.

Like God’s heart for Hagar, Jesus’ heart is for the one far from home. Our Savior goes to any length to look for him in order to pick him up and carry him home.

It is easy for us to value Christian-looking people. They are respectable in appearance. The one we believe is farthest from Christ can be one who repels. Tattoos, piercings, Goth style clothing, a past that makes us blush, and language that downright intimidates ~ all of these are attached to those for whom Jesus is looking.

The heart of God is one that seeks ~ not waits ~ for sinners to come home. God sent Jesus to ‘seek and to save’ those who are lost. Are they also equally important to me?  If I don’t seek them out, they will assume that God is no more interested than I am since I call myself His disciple. I teach others how to perceive God and that is a sobering reality.

El Roi has them on His heart today.  They are in His sights.  He aches for us to care and be His arms to carry them home.

A compassionate search party. Make us one as Your church. In Jesus’ name, Amen