Would Jesus Leave the Church to Find the Lost?
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(Reflecting on God’s Searching Love)
Luke 15 paints one of the most beautiful pictures of God’s heart.
It starts with a simple scene:
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’” – Luke 15:1–2 (NIV)
In response, Jesus tells them a story:
A shepherd has one hundred sheep. One wanders off. He leaves the ninety-nine safe in the open country to search for the one that’s lost. And when he finds it, he throws it on his shoulders, rejoicing all the way home.
That’s what God is like.
He searches.
He goes.
He doesn’t wait for the lost to find their way back — He goes looking for them.
The Bubble of Religion
The Pharisees couldn’t understand Jesus’ actions. They had built an entire system to protect themselves from “sinners.” Their lives were polished, their rules airtight, their reputation spotless.
But somewhere in all that structure, they lost compassion.
Their religion had become a bubble — sophisticated, safe, and completely detached from the very people God loved.
Then Jesus came along and broke the bubble.
He ate with tax collectors.
He talked with prostitutes.
He laughed, cried, and lived among the people the Pharisees avoided.
And that made the religious crowd furious.
Why?
Maybe because Jesus exposed how ineffective their system really was.
Maybe because He showed that true holiness isn’t about separation — it’s about love.
Maybe because His grace was attracting the people their rules could never reach.
The Modern Bubble
It’s easy to read this story and shake our heads at the Pharisees. But if we’re honest, the church today can fall into the same trap.
We create our own Christian bubbles.
We hang out mostly with believers.
We stay inside our buildings, polish our programs, and hope the world will wander in.
But that’s not what Jesus did.
He didn’t wait for people to come to Him — He went to them.
He stepped into the mess of real life.
He met people where they were, without judgment or fear.
And that’s what He calls us to do.
Leaving the Ninety-Nine
Following Jesus means leaving comfort for compassion.
It means walking into places that might make us uncomfortable — the workplace, the neighborhood, the social spaces where people are far from God.
It means showing up, listening, and loving without expecting anything in return.
That’s what “leaving the ninety-nine” looks like in our world today.
When Others Don’t Understand
Here’s the hard part: not everyone will cheer you on when you do this.
Some will question your choices. Some will criticize.
But that’s okay.
Jesus faced the same thing.
When you step outside the bubble to love people the way He did, you’re walking in His footsteps. It might be uncomfortable, but it’s also where the joy is found — the joy of seeing someone find their way back to God.
Because heaven still rejoices over one sinner who repents.
A Question for You
So, who is your “one”?
Who might God be calling you to notice this week — to reach, to love, or simply to listen to?
Don’t wait for them to come to you.
GO FIND THEM!
Love them right where they are.
That’s what Jesus did.
That’s what following Him looks like.
“Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” – Luke 15:6
Reflection Questions
Who in my world might be the “one” God is calling me to reach?
Have I built my own spiritual bubble that keeps me safe but distant?
What might “leaving the ninety-nine” look like in my daily life?
How can I better reflect Jesus’ love to those who don’t yet know Him?
Final Encouragement
Don’t lose heart, my friend.
The work of love is slow, messy, and often misunderstood — but it’s also the work of Jesus.
Keep going after the one.
The Shepherd still leads the way.
