No Percentages

See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. ~ Matthew 18:10

I once heard a pastor say, "A father doesn't have the luxury of percentages." He said a father won't look at his kids, no matter how many he may have, and say, "99% are going to heaven," or "at least half of my kids know Jesus". In the gospels, Jesus talked about this concept. That's why, in the parable of the prodigal son, the father was grieved when his one son ran off and was overjoyed when he returned. Why? Not because he never noticed his other son's obedience and love, but because he didn't have the luxury of percentages. For a father, it's all or nothing.

When God, our heavenly Father, looks at us, He doesn't see just our faults, our sins, or our disobedience. He sees His kids. In heaven, God doesn't tell the angels, "Never mind that 75% over there. Because, over here, you'll see that 25% are obeying my commands and are living the life I called them to." No, in heaven, God rejoices over His kids and He grieves over His kids. He is heartbroken when we turn from Him and devastated when we reject Him. But He is overjoyed and celebrates when we return.

In Matthew 18, Jesus talked about the parable of the lost sheep. He said that a shepherd will leave the ninety-nine on the hills to go and look for the one that wandered off, (v 12). We were once all those lost sheep. God took that time with all of us to woo us and cherish us and bring us back to Him. And now He celebrates and dances over us. He wants to have the same celebration over all His kids, not just a percentage of them. And even when the percentages get to 1%, He will keep going until He can bring them home.

Thank you, Lord, that when we were the ones who wondered off, who were lost, missing, hurting, you stopped at nothing to get us to turn and seek your face. Lord, I pray that as we venture out for you, we would stop at nothing to bring your love to your kids--the ones you long so desperately to have a relationship with you. I pray that you would place a burden on our hearts, that we wouldn't look at your kids as percentages, either. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

And if he finds it...he will be 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. ~ Matthew 18:13-14