Imitating Our Caring Shepherd
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is 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 perish.”
Matthew 18:12-14
Jesus reveals His heart in these words. He prizes each sheep in His flock and does not want anyone to perish. Where other, more rational shepherds might say, “Cut your losses. Leave the one lost sheep out in the fields,” Jesus can’t bear to think of that particular lost sheep alone and vulnerable in the wilderness.
American Christianity tends to work the opposite way. Big box Christianity does not risk leaving the ninety-nine sheep on the hills to pursue the one lost sheep. The cost-benefit analysis does not add up. Such lavish care for one sheep is risky, even crazy.
Wendell Berry, a noted farmer and poet, once wrote an essay on Jesus’ parable called Two Minds. He compares the “Rational Mind” with the “Sympathetic Mind.” The Rational Mind would never risk searching for one lost sheep. Instead, it would ask:
- What is likely to be the cost of labor for looking for one lost sheep after quitting time?
- How much time spent looking would equal the market value of one lost sheep?
- Shouldn’t one think of splicing a few firefly genes into one’s sheep so that straying sheep would glow in the dark?
He then recounts the true story of a young man working for a large confinement hog farm. One day he noticed disease spreading among the feeder pigs. Having raised pigs himself, he knew they could be treated. But the company operated according to the Rational Mind. Their policy was simple: “Kill diseased animals with a blow to the head.” There was no time for costly treatment.
The young man couldn’t bring himself to do it. On his day off, he returned to care for the sick pig. His supervisors thought such compassion was foolish and fired him for violating company policy.
As Wendell Berry observes, “The young man in the hog factory is a direct cultural descendant of the shepherd in the parable.”
Jesus does not look at us with narrow eyes, calculating our market value or discarding us when we no longer produce. We are not interchangeable parts or cogs in His productivity machine. Instead, “We are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care” (Psalm 95:7). He knows each of us by name. We are uniquely precious in His sight. As Berry says, Christ sees us with a sympathetic mind, a mind that “loves the sheep and knows what it is like to be lost.”
An old hymn prays, “May the mind of Christ my Savior live in me from day to day.” That prayer matters. The mind of Christ is not merely common sense under the glow of prayer. It is not common sense to leave ninety-nine sheep to search for one. To the Rational Mind, that is crazy love. Yet this is how our Shepherd cares for us. When it came to rescuing His sheep, He went to the greatest possible length, even giving His life on the cross.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to reflect that same compassionate care for one another.
One way we seek to do that at Connections is through our Care Team. The Care Team exists to come alongside people during difficult seasons with prayer, encouragement, compassionate listening and practical support. Last week our care leaders gathered to pray together, encourage one another and continue strengthening this important ministry.
Connections is divided into several care groups, each served by dedicated care leaders. Our current care leaders are Barbara Alger, Rich and Sandy Westra, Joe Unrein, Ruth Febriana and Barb Roth. Please keep them in your prayers as they seek to care for our church family with the heart of Christ.
Our desire is to give care the way Jesus gives care. He is our example. We want eyes that notice when someone is hurting and ears that are attentive to the disappointments and burdens people share. We want hearts full of compassion, feet ready to respond and hands willing to offer practical help. We are also committed to treating every personal conversation with care and confidentiality.
We also encourage everyone at Connections to participate in a small group whenever possible. Small groups provide a wonderful place to build relationships, encourage one another and care for each other. Alongside those relationships, our Care Team is available to offer additional prayer, encouragement and support whenever it is needed.
If you would like to connect with a care leader or learn more about receiving care, please contact Pastor Rob at rob@myconnections.church or call the church office at (303) 791-2143. We would be honored to connect you with someone who can pray with you, encourage you and walk alongside you.
