Day 154 "Sometimes attention is a sign of weakness rather than a badge of honor."

Day 154 Matthew 18:12-14 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” In both the world of business and the world of ministry (which is, all too often, hard to tell apart), there are many constant truths–some good, some not so, and some that just are like it or not. One of the unfair and yet constant truths has to do with those who tend to stray or lack either the ability or desire to follow direction for one reason or another. The truth is that these types of people are the ones who get the most attention. Those who have vision or follow direction well tend to receive less attention from the boss and therefore tend to feel neglected. However, those who stray and receive more attention often perceive it incorrectly as the boss favoring them or feeling that they are more worthy of the attention than others. Yet the opposite would be more often the truth than not in both cases. Generally, we leaders desire to spend more time with our other competent leaders rather than spending our time correcting and keeping the strays on track, yet necessity or care dictates that we must. For those of you who are feeling neglected because you don't get much time with the boss, can I say to you, "Thank You." It is people like you who truly allow great things to happen, for if all were strays, nothing would ever be accomplished. And while it is frustrating for you and often your leaders, it is necessary that we all search for the lost and roaming strays, for if we neglect them, we have forgotten how to submit and love and we have become selfish in our ambition. Unfortunately, Churches are filled with people who have gotten what they need and are selfishly filling the pews and who are not willing to have their lives disrupted by seeking to save the lost. People and bodies of believers who neglect the strays and the lost will, just as a business that would do the same, suffer the consequences of their action–they will lose their culture and identity, and the end result will more than likely be a slow death. If we lose sight of the fact that Jesus came for the lost, the strays, the weak, and the little ones, we lose sight of Him, and without Him, we have no hope. So, rather than complain about those who need attention, praise God that you’re not one, and get in there and help in some way to bring them into the fold. Everyone will be better and blessed for it! Daily Prayer: Father, thank You that You came for the lost and the strays, and may we never forget that we, too, were once the same and You, Lord, brought us into Your fold. Show us how we can do likewise. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Sometimes attention is a sign of weakness rather than a badge of honor." Pastor Gene Burroughs