July 31, 2005
EVERY BELIEVER’S VALUE
Matthew 18:10-14
Do you ever struggle with other believers? Do you sometimes find yourself looking around wondering if one of your dear brothers or sisters in Christ is ever going to get their act together? When’s he going to get over his sin? Will she ever stop her whining? When’s so and so going to start doing their part around the church? If you ever find yourself getting frustrated with weak, wimpy believers, Jesus has a few words for you. You’ll find them in Matthew 18:10-14.
In Matthew 18:10-14 Jesus continues a discussion He’s having with his disciples about what it means to be great in the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 18:2-4 Jesus tells his disciples that in order to even enter the kingdom one must become humble like a little child. Entering the kingdom requires us to become totally dependent on Christ alone. Then, in verses 5-9 Jesus goes on to warn us that we must never cause other believers—especially young or weak believers—to stumble into sin. And, I think, it is the weak believer Jesus especially has in mind when he continues on in verses 10-14. Turn with me to Matthew 18:10-14 and follow as I read.
Speaking to His disciples who would soon become the leaders of Christ’s Church Jesus says, See that you do not look down on one of these little ones (that is, other believers in Christ). For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
Let’s start by being honest. Sometimes we disappoint each other as believers. Sometimes we sin against each other. Sometimes we irritate each other and let each other down. And along with those things comes a temptation. It is the temptation to close our hearts to one another. It’s the temptation to complain about each other and to criticize. It’s the temptation to write each other off as worthless. If we yield to those temptations, Jesus says we sin. We sin because, as believers, we have no right to reject people God accepts. We have no right to hate people God loves. We have no right to cut them loose or cause them to stumble. No. When we stop caring about other believers—especially weak, stumbling believers—we stop caring about people who are the apple of God’s eye.
Take a look at the person sitting next to you this morning. Do you know how much that person matters to God? If that person is a believer, Jesus says, “Be careful you don’t look down on them!” Jesus says be careful that you don’t look down on them because every believer in this room is literally an object of angelic concern! Look again at Matthew 18:10 Jesus says, See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
I don’t know if Jesus is telling us that every believer on earth has what we would call a “guardian angel.” That’s clearly one possible meaning of His words. But whether Jesus is referring to individual guardian angels or the ministry of the angelic hosts in general, one thing is clear—the angels themselves take an interest in our lives. They care for us. They are concerned for us. And even as they dwell in God’s presence they express their displeasure whenever the least of God’s children are rejected or abused or seduced into sin. Every believer is the object of angelic concern. Hebrew 1:14 says that the angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation! So, next time you’re tempted to say, “Nobody cares about me,” remember this—the angels care. Their attention is fixed on you. Their concern is for you. But never forget, it’s not just about you. The angels care every bit as much about that other believer too. Be careful that you don’t abuse them. Be careful that you never reject them or write them off. Be careful that you never tempt another believer or cause them to sin. Remember, when you mess with your brothers and sisters in Christ you’re messing with angels. But that’s really only a minor consideration in light of what Jesus says next. Jesus goes on to say, “When you mess with your brothers and sisters in Christ, not only are you messing with angels, you’re messing with God.
What do you think? Jesus says, If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
In this parable God reveals the depth of His love for each and every believer. Please hear what I’m going to say next. God loves those fickle wandering sheep every bit as much as He loves those faithful, stable sheep who never seem to stray. Sometimes we forget that. In our sin, we tend to condemn the weak believer. Even as a pastor there are times when I look at the repetitiveness of someone’s sin and my impulse is to want to shake my head in frustration and walk away.
When will we learn? God’s not like that. When God sees the weak believer He doesn’t shake his head in disgust. Do you know what He does? He goes after them. God goes after the divorcee. He goes after the porn addict. He goes after that woman, that man, who’s fallen into sexual sin. God goes after the proud. He goes after the temperamental. He goes after those sheep who are foolish and immature. If you’ll just stop and think about that you’ll know it’s true! You’ll know it’s true because I’ll bet you’ve experienced it. I’ll bet there’s been at least one time in your life when God had to come after you.
Let’s look closely at this parable and learn what the Father’s love for us means. In Matthew 18:12 Jesus says, What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?
Did you hear that? God knows every one of the sheep in His flock. He’s knows where each of us is and He knows when the least of us strays from the fold. In other words, Jesus says that the Father loves each of us deeply and individually. God sees you and knows you as an individual. That’s why John 10:3 says, He calls his own sheep by name…
In Psalm 139, King David was overwhelmed by this truth when he wrote, O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. …For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; …My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Do we get it? God knows us inside out! You are not forgotten today. You have not been left alone. In Christ, God knows you intimately. In Christ, God is intimately involved in your life. You are His child and He hasn’t lost you in the crowd.
The second truth Jesus teaches us about the Father’s love flows naturally out of the first. If God knows each of us individually He also pursues each of us individually when we stray. Jesus says, What do you think, if a man owns a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine…and go to look for the one that wandered off?
Know this—if you belong to Jesus Christ and you get yourself tangled up in sin and self-centeredness God’s coming after you. If He doesn’t come after you—if He doesn’t discipline you and rob you of peace—that’s a pretty good sign that you really don’t belong to Christ. If you came up to me and said, “Say, I haven’t seen Kristen around. Where’s she been lately?” What kind of dad would I be if I said, “Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen Kristen for about three weeks. I’m not sure where she is. Oh well, I guess it really doesn’t matter. I’ve got two other kids and I know where they are”?
I promise you, I’ve gotten in our car more than once searching for one of my kids when I wasn’t sure where they were. Do you think God doesn’t go searching too?
But it gets even better than that. In verse 13 Jesus continues to paint His picture of the shepherd by saying, And if he finds it (the lost sheep), I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.
Are you a wandering sheep? If you think you have to worry about what kind of reception you’ll get if you come back to God, think again. If you’ve wandered away—if you’ve rebelled and given yourself over to sin—God is not looking down on you with disgust! No! God is not looking down on you at all! He’s looking for you and He’s ready to party the moment He brings you home. If you repent and turn back to God, you won’t find Him to be vindictive. You won’t find Him to be red-faced and angry. If you find Him red-faced at all it will be from weeping for joy over you. You’re His lost child. The Father’s not looking to punish you. He’s looking to bring you home. Won’t you come? Won’t you believe what Jesus says in verse 14 about the Father’s love? In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
If you’re a wandering sheep, hear what Jesus says. The Father knows you and loves you individually. He’s looking for you. He’s calling your name. And He’s already planned a welcome home party for you!
I don’t know, maybe you’re one of those people who’ve just never been able to get their act together when it comes to following Christ. Maybe you’re disgusted with yourself and you figure God must be disgusted with you too. Even if you came back, you wonder if God would take you back. Jesus says—not only will God take you back, He’s been looking to bring you back the whole time. Won’t you let God throw a party over you.
Let me ask everyone here to bow your heads and close your eyes. Do you hear God speaking to your heart right now? Is He saying, “It’s time to come home now. It’s time to come back into the fold”? The Father’s arms have always been open to you. They’re open to you now. Pray with me. Dear God, I’m tired of wandering. I want to come home now. Receive me. Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross and paying the penalty for my sin. I really do trust you as my Savior. In the strength of your grace, I really will follow you as my Lord. Amen.
And now to the rest of the flock let me say this. The whole point of this parable for you and me is this—we are called to care for each other in exactly the same way God the Father cares for us. We must never lead another believer into sin. We must never look down on a weaker Christian. We must never hold them in contempt. We must never write them off as hopeless. I can’t be a faithful pastor—and you can’t be a faithful believer—if we’re not willing to love each other and receive each other in spite of our weaknesses.
Do you want to see God angry? If you do, just look down your nose at a weaker Christian and do nothing to bring them back into the fold. Because, in essence, what you’re saying is, “to hell with those who stray.” If that’s your attitude, don’t be surprised if one day Jesus turns around and says, “To hell with you too!”
God help us not to stray. God help us to go after those who do.
