Fetching the Lost One!

As I move among churches and talk to their people and leadership, I am saddened by hte great numbers of people that “just don’t come to church anymore.” I wonder how many of them have joined another church and how many have simply quit going altogether. I wonder how many of those have been hurt by something another person said or did to them and the one causing the hurt wan’t even aware. So many things go through my mind as I prayerfully consider these lost ones.

Church, Jesus is concerned about the lost ones. Fact is, He is usually much more concerned than we are. As the church, we often show very little, if any, concern for the wandering. Consider what Jesus said about these lost ones as recorded in Luke 15:4-7: “What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it. When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.”

As we look at these verses and carefully consider the Great Shepherd’s concern for the lost one, we recognize very quickly the importance He puts on that one. Sadly, churches are often content that they still have the 99 and show little, if any, concern for that one. They figure that lost one isn’t worth the effort required to go searching after them. Why waste time trying to bring that one back into the fold when I need to be putting my effort into the 99 who haven’t strayed? That is a poor excuse! In fact, that is a wrong excuse—one for which many in the church will have to give an accounting for on judgement day.

Perhaps what bothers me even more today and I’m certain it breaks GOD’s heart is the total lack of concern by many of the church’s shepherds today. So many have placed their personal concerns, desires and daily activities far above their sheep. All they think about and talk about is their hobbies and sports and other activities that tend to take up their daily routine. I see those who talk all about what is going on in their personal world yet never mention the wonderful people in their church and how awesome GOD is working within their church. Many who do mention their church tend to be heaping all the glory upon themselves rather than the Great Shepherd and what He is doing.

CHURCH, as you gather, consider those who used to be there and aren’t anymore. Consider how important they are to GOD and then go look for them as JESUS spoke of in Luke 15. He went out determined to find and bring back that lost one, so should we!