Growing Together in Christ’s Love and Grace
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 14.35) and “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4.7)
Main Point: As recipients of God’s seeking love, we’re called to seek others and grow together in Christ’s grace.
As we gather around Word and Sacrament, we are that community celebration. We are the friends and neighbors called together to rejoice. Every person in the sanctuary is there because our Good Shepherd sought us out, found us, and carried us home.
Our task is to let the joy of our own salvation move us to seek out others who are lost. To make that phone call. To send that text. To extend that invitation. To welcome with open arms those whom our Shepherd carries home.
This is what the kingdom of heaven looks like – not a place where the found look down on the lost, but a place where everyone who has been found rejoices every time another lost soul comes home. Whether it’s Back to Church Sunday or any other day, our response to returning hearts should be one of pure joy.
In our small Kansas communities, we have unique opportunities to embody this gospel truth. We can be the neighbors who celebrate when the lost coin is found, the friends who rejoice when the lost sheep returns. We can create communities known not for judgment but for the infectious joy that comes from understanding grace.
May the joy of the angels be our joy. May the heart of our Shepherd be our heart. And may our little communities be known not for grumbling, but for rejoicing when the lost are found – even as we continue growing together in Christ’s love and grace.
Reflection: We who have been found are called to seek others with the same love that found us. Questions for Meditation: Who is God calling me to reach out to this week? How can I better embody the celebrating, seeking heart of our Good Shepherd?
Prayer: Good Shepherd, as You have sought and found me, equip me to seek others with Your love. May my life be marked by the joy of heaven and the welcome of Your grace. Use me to help build a community known for celebration, not condemnation. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
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