The Value of One

What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone

astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish. Matthew 18:12-14

[For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.] Matthew 18:11

We usually agree in majority decisions such as the political will of the people in

choosing their candidate to sit in places of authority. But is a majority decision

reliable? A crowd may seem many and may show power in number and voices cry out over what they want, but they may be wrong. In the kingdom of God, one person who strays away is important. Here is the heart of our Master, Jesus' who told a story of a shepherd who has ninety-nine sheep who are grazing but misses one who strayed away. So the shepherd looked all over to find the straying sheep. He illustrated that He [Jesus] is the true shepherd, who not only cares for the ninety-nine who are well and following, out of danger, grazing well but looks over for the one that was lost or has strayed away. Earlier He said, 'For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.'

The idea of being lost in the jungle is fearful if not frightening. You don't know the place, wild animals frequent that forest. No place to stay warm; no place to be fed; no place to sleep, for you are afraid that someone or wild animals might attack you.

No weapon to protect you, no one is there to look for you. You probably wonder who is going to miss you; who is going to look for you? Cheer up, someone is looking for you! Jesus is the true shepherd who is on the lookout for you. If you admit that you are lost in the sea of humanity, no one seems to care, no one to encourage you . ..

let me tell you something ... He is there - the true shepherd. He is an expert in

looking for lost sheep and where you are, He will pick you up; pluck you up where you got stuck and will give you another chance to get back on your feet. To feel loved and cared .. you will never be lost again when you are in His loving arms.

Let us meditate on His loving kindness! The value of one - it's worth it, He said. You are worth it!