March 21, 2019 – Matthew 18:11-12

“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?”  Matthew 18:11-12.

This passage begins with Jesus sharing the preciousness of a child.  He speaks with His hand on a child’s head. Matthew 18:3-6. “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  Luke 19:10.  In thirteen words, Jesus gives us his mission in life. He illustrates this mission with children and with sheep.  We are never too old to sing this children’s song, “Jesus Loves Me, this I know! For the Bible tells me so. ”

Jesus continues to search for us. He is Truth. He brings a Way of Life to Live in Love and Peace. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:26.

And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.  Matthew 18:13-14.