The Value of Each One

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Gaining in Jesus Christ

Matthew 18:10-14

The Message (MSG)

¹⁰ “Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?

Work It Out Between You

^12-14 “Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn’t he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn’t want to lose even one of these simple believers.

For Reflection

Get back to the basics.  As one transformed in the image of Christ, remember your child like beginnings in the faith.  You didn't know it all then and, quite frankly, no matter your age or length of your tenure of living out your transformation, you still have a lot to learn.

A work of art is just as valuable to one who exclaims "I like it!" without really knowing why as it is to one who knows about line, composition, color and all of those other things which make up a sophisticated understanding.  Likewise, one whose faith is simply understood is just as life changing as one whose studies build a complex understanding of the gospel. 

Each receives the same measure of God's love and protection. Those with a complex understanding  serve those whose simple understandings sometimes fail them.  Those with simple understandings serve those whose complex understandings sometimes fail them.  Each shepherds the other, equal in the sight of God.

Pray

that you will see each of God's children as equal participants in the Kingdom of God.  Pray that you will council each other as is befitting your understanding and tempered with grace, love and humility.