“Make sure that you do not look down on the little ones, on those who are further behind you on the path of righteousness. For I tell you: they are watched over by those most beloved messengers who are always in the company of My Father in Heaven. (The Son Of Man has come to save all those who are lost.) A shepherd in charge of 100 sheep notices that one of his sheep has gone astray. What do you think he should do? Should the shepherd leave the flock on the hills unguarded to search for the lost sheep? God’s shepherd goes to look for that one lost sheep, and when he finds her, is happier about her return than he is about the 99 that stayed put. Your Father in Heaven does not want a single one of the tripped, waylaid, stumbling little ones to be lost.” – Matthew 18:10-14 (The Voice)
Work found me sitting on a plane that was headed out of Cape Town, and I sat down eager to get some shut-eye. The last thing I wanted to do was talk; it had been an early morning of getting up and running but evidently rest wasn’t in God’s plan for me. A colleague had texted me that morning and asked to meet me at the airport so that we could book seats next to each other. I complied, thinking that that was where the commitment ended. We were acquaintances. We had had a few laughs together, but still barely knew each other. She, however, decided that we did.
During the flight, conversation changed from lighthearted to more serious stuff, and as she spoke to me about certain things that were going on in her life, my heart (literally) burned. All I could think was, “This could have been me without Jesus, I would have been a tormented soul – I have to tell her…”
“You know, I totally understand what you’re going through,” I started, “I’ve had many experiences like yours and the only thing that stopped that torment in my life was me giving over completely and hanging onto Jesus…”
“Sure,” she said.
And the conversation carried on in a different direction. I wasn’t sure if I’d ruined our chances of ever being closer, but I had said what I needed to say.
Over the duration of the next month, God willed that we would build an unexpected friendship, and it was certainly one of the greatest experiences of last year. Every time I came away from speaking to her I was overwhelmed by how much God’s heart yearned for her – she was the one that got away; the stumbling sheep.
Time passed and I did all I knew to do – love. Not so long ago, she called and we made a date for coffee (or whatever the weather permitted). I arrived not knowing what to expect. The conversation started flowing and then she started telling me a about something that was going on in her life, and some personal life-changing decisions that she had come to make as a result. My heart leapt.
It wasn’t the full step, but this was a step in the right direction.
I’ve learnt to deal with friendships loosely throughout life – not expect too much, not to try too hard, and to let them go when its time (without crying about it). I’m okay with being alone, and sometimes even crave it. But sometimes when people come onto your path – people who you’d not normally associate with – one has to ask questions. Questions like, “Why, God? What do you want to teach me through this person?”
In this particular case, Jesus was reminding me that it’s not His intention to leave anyone behind! Oh! He loved her so much that He made our paths cross, and loves me so much that he gave me an opportunity to be stretched and to display his love! What an awesome break from the standard navel-gazing we find ourselves doing on a daily basis!
Never forceful; never demanding; always patient; always kind…
Christian, please be reminded – as you walk around wanting to achieve your dreams and what you feel is your call – that the end goal is that no one gets left behind! God’s plan is that all would hear the news of His great love and the eternal life that he offers!
And, to any new friend reading this without a personal relationship with Christ, I must just tell you that my life’s duty is that no one gets left behind – there is a family that is waiting for you to be a part of it! You are loved more than you know, and I encourage you to explore what that actually means by clicking on the banner below.