“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” -Luke 15:4
It is often a struggle to accept the people who are different than we are. It is difficult to accept the people in our life who have not treated us well. It is a challenge to connect with the people who believe differently than we do.
Jesus often encountered people who worked to exclude others in their community. Sometimes the religious leaders would exclude others based on the law. Other times people would be excluded because of their health. It was a common practice in the time of Jesus and, sadly, it is a common practice today.
Jesus showed that there is a better way to live. He taught that the heart of God was care for all. Jesus encountered the teachers of the law, who were disturbed that he would be willing to associate with tax collector and sinners. They could not believe that he would allow them to be in his presence. Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep. He makes it clear that God cares for the whole flock and values even the one who is easily excluded.
The heart of our faith is love and care for all people. We are called to work to accept one another as the children of God. We know that God seeks after each of us and we should the same value in each person around us.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
