December 3, 2020 - Let us look today at the passage of Scripture found in Matthew 18:10-14. This is another parable of Jesus Christ that I am sure many have heard before. The parable is none other than the classic tale of the lost sheep. It is a short tale of a shepherd realizing that one from his flock has gone astray. Would not the shepherd search for the one stray? Christ is saying yes he would and just as the shepherd brings that stray back to the flock, so too does the Triune God bring us to what has been called the family of God. The little ones being referred to is us and those who we get to welcome as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
I understand it does not always work that way, as soon as you add man and our depravity the words of Christ can become distorted. For instance, we can be tempted to be comfortable with keeping the flock at 99. We might say good riddance when we hear the news of a stray member of the flock when we ought to be grieved about and concerned like our Lord. Do we think we know better than the Shepherd? When the lost sheep are found let us praise the Lord! Instead of circling the wagons to prevent anyone from entering but always leaving space for people to leave, let us gather around our brothers and sisters. Gather around to comfort them. Remember verse 14, “So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
It is the will of the Father to gather his church and only fools stand in His way. Yet fools, lost sheep, all believers in Christ can be comforted by the truth that by the power of Christ we are forgiven.
Wynter is an Elder at Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church. Find out more at MariposaChurch.org or email him at wynter@mariposachurch.org. Visit Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church on Facebook.
Pastor’s Corner is a column from Pastor Wynter Sturtevant III of the Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church.
The Church has moved locations, services are now held at the Bootjack Stompers Hall (located at 4662 Morman Bar Crossing) across from the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.
Time of service is at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday.
I am happy to announce that MRBC has its own sermon podcast. Please check it out by clicking on the link below or searching MRBC Sermons on iTunes. New sermons will be posted every Wednesday.
https://mariposachurch.transistor.fm/episodes
Note: Area churches interested in submitting Articles of Faith are welcome to contact us.
Please email the Sierra Sun Times at sst@goldrushcam.com for more information.
