This week’s theme is “Jesus Teaches.”

“Fish out of water” stories are common in entertainment. Examples include the Clampett family in The

Beverly Hillbillies, Marty McFly in Back to the Future, or Buddy the Elf in Elf. There’s something

compelling about watching somebody from one culture navigating an entirely different one.



This phenomenon can occur in real life, as I can testify based on the time this farm-raised boy trekked to

a (quite unsuccessful) job interview in downtown Chicago as a wide-eyed (and partially freaked out)

college senior. I even carried a briefcase in a transparent attempt to show that I knew what was up in

the business world, but it contained only a book, a newspaper, and an apple. Looking back, what I

thought was an impressive display of professionalism was closer to a Halloween costume.

In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, have you ever wondered what the sheep went through while it was

lost? Of course, this is a parable Jesus taught regarding the shepherd’s response to the lost sheep, so the

sheep’s perspective is beside the point, but it got me thinking.

A lost sheep would probably be scared and confused. It might encounter other animals, or even a false

shepherd or two. It would be unsettled until it was home.

Have you ever witnessed somebody doing, or saying, or wearing something at church that you think is

inappropriate for the setting? I have, and I confess that often I have a negative internal reaction in my

heart. My gut reaction is, “they should know better!”

But maybe they really don’t.

Maybe this is a lost sheep, scared and confused inside. Maybe they are desperately trying not to stand

out for fear of being judged unworthy by somebody like me. Maybe they’ve been rejected and

mistreated by false shepherds their whole lives and it took years to muster the courage to walk into a

big fancy building full of people who already know what to do, say, and wear. They might now show it,

but this sheep just might be terrified.

So why am I even at church? I am there to worship the Good Shepherd who rescued me when I was lost.

If His arms were open for me, they for sure are open for other lost sheep, and I need to open my arms

too.

I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99

righteous people who don’t need repentance. (Luke 15:7 HCSB)

By Mark Stuart

Mark is the husband of Laura, father of Shelby and Jacob, and father-in-law of Bailey.