Gone Astray

Matthew 18:11
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

The Son of man; who is this Son of man?
Matthew 8:20
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Matthew 9:6
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

Without doubt the Son of man is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. His purpose for coming to this earth is the save sinners from an awful place called hell. It's wonderful that He does so much more but the main reason for His coming is to save sinners or the lost.

The apostle Paul said it this way.
1 Timothy 1:15
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Not only did Jesus come to save sinners but also to keep the saved.

John 18:9
That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Jesus is not just in the saving sinners business He is also in the keeping saints business.

Matthew 18:12
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?


ASTRAY "Out of the right way or proper place,  it signifies wandering from the path."
Here we see a picture of a sheep going astray . The Shepherd leaves the rest of his sheep and goes back and finds the one that went astray. For God so loved that He gave but God so loves that He goes. If a parent looks around and their child is missing they immediately go in search for their child.

Luke 2:43
And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

If your child is missing you stop what you are doing and nothing is more important than finding that child. The Lord is no different He goes seeking to bring that sheep back to the fold.

Matthew 18:13
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Why does He do this?

Matthew 18:14
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Think

7 August 2017

Matthew 18:1
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

Chapter 17 closes with the tax collectors in Capernaum wanting Jesus to pay taxes which Jesus does. Now in chapter 18 we read "At the same time came" His disciples come to Jesus with a question. "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Why did they asked that question? I'm not sure unless they thought it would be one of them. Can you image the disarray that would have brought on if Jesus would have named one of them? Jesus does something much different and I should learn from His example. Jesus turns and calls a child and places them for His disciples to see.

Matthew 18:2
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

Them Jesus teaches an object lesson; why did He do that? Because Jesus knows we will remember more of what we see than what we hear. Jesus brings this child into the center, now all the disciples are looking and watching as well as hearing. Jesus begins.

Matthew 18:3
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus tells His disciples "Except ye be converted" Strong say
CONVERTED "to twist, that is, turn quite around or reverse (literally or figuratively): - convert, turn (again, back again, self, self about)."

Jesus bring this child and says "Except he turn around and reverse your way of thinking.  These disciples thinking was wrong it was worldly thinking who's the greatest, the best, the most important. Jesus says no boys you have the wrong thinking going on. You see this child? It doesn't matter to them who's the best, greatest, fastest, richest none of these things  matter to them, they could care less, change the way you think.

Matthew 18:4
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Listen "WHOSOEVER" humbles themselves as this little child. Jesus called a little child to come to Him and without question that child came straight to Jesus. That child humbled themselves and came. Jesus said but you disciples are standing around here wanting to know who's the greatest but this child could care less. But there something else I want you see and learn. This child humbled themselves and came and I received them, now you boys do the same.

Matthew 18:5
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Matthew 18:6
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

There's that word "WHOSO" again Webster has this to say about that word"Any  person whatever."
It does not matter any person that shall be OFFEND ("To attack; to assail.") one these that have humbled themselves that believe in me, it would be better that a millstone were to be placed around their neck and that they were drowned.

Would you think that would refer to our talking bad against one another? Maybe even taken side? "Who is the greatest" when we take sides listen to gossip and even gossip ourselves we may be hurting one of God's little children as Aretha Franklin said in her song "Think" which was released May 2,1968 “You better think about what you're trying to do"  I'm afraid to many times we speak before we think. If God so loved the world and that is more than just me. God loves us all and when I run someone down I'm saying God who's the greatest in your eyes me or them? It's far better to keep your mouth shut. Lord help me to do just that.