Matthew 18:10-11 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
When I was going through teacher education, I came across The Starfish Story many times. It was used as a metaphor for the importance of what educators do, which often feels overwhelming and thankless. The Starfish Story reminds educators that what we do makes a difference to individuals, and even though we can’t save the world, our actions “make a difference to that one”.
Matthew 18:12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?
The Parable of the Wandering Sheep seems to me the same concept in reverse. We are the starfish, miles and miles of starfish on the shoreline. It’s so easy to feel insignificant and unimportant, like no one cares at all. But God doesn’t see us as expendable. He values each and every one of us. He would (and has and does) leave the 99 just to save the one…because every single one of us matters to Him.
Matthew 18:13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.
Lord, It is so easy to feel small and insignificant, like we’ve done too much, made too many bad choices for You to waste Your time trying to save us. But that’s not who You are. You pursue us, redeem us, rejoice over us. Help me to believe in my worth to You, especially on the hard days. Help me to see the value in others, even when they are struggling to see it for themselves. Draw us all closer to You. Amen..
Matthew 18:14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Have a blessed day.