Now that we have reached the last Sunday service of the year, we have been through 52 Sunday worship services! I'd like to thank you all for doing many things for the Church, and for the Lord. This morning, I was given this passage, wondering why I was given this passage. I didn't have any idea. Early this morning, one of our church ladies, who has been very sick, slipped into unconsciousness. Before the earlier worship service at Grace Chapel, I had to hurry off to her home - where I prayed over her. I stayed at her house for only a little while before hurrying back to the service. Now, I'd like to ask you to pray really hard for her.

Though wondering why I was given this passage, I did find one thing; there was one sheep in trouble out of a number of one hundred, still this one was very important to the shepherd! Jesus mentioned this "one" in the Bible many times. God sees us and He sees every single one of us. We belong to several groups; the Church, an office, and families. We are all a part of groups, but we are still individuals. From this passage we can tell just how much God loves each one of us. In this thing I just can't help repenting because, as your pastor, I can't care for you as much as God does. I am so weak in comparison!

Read verse 15: Here, also, is mentioned "one" of the brothers. If that one sins, the stronger Christian is to have a talk with him in secret, in an attempt to persuade him back into repentence with the Lord. See John 20:23. Do not give up on that person leaving you. That "one" person is necessary for the life of the Church, and important to God, Himself! You might think, 'Oh well. It is only one person.' but his leaving will surely hurt you and God.

Sad to say though, I've had such an experience this year. Imagine how hurting it is to lose a person that you have cared over and loved, leaving 99 behind! This is the mind of God. Verse 19 follows, telling us to pray with a few people, after which God in Heaven will listen. But, what kind of prayer is being prayed in this case? This prayer is for forgiving those who have left you, hurting you.

Remember when the disciples asked Jesus how many times we should forgive? Jesus said that we should forgive seventy times seven times! This means that every time we hurt, we are to forgive. Here is another parable, found in verses 23 to 35. Here again God tells us to forgive others, this time citing the fact that we, ourselves, have been forgiven. We all are people who should know the grace of having been forgiven - the grace of forgiveness! And we are to follow God's example in forgiving others. As for myself and our church, this point was a great matter to us this year. We all know how great our debt was, when the Lord forgave us. It was beyond our hard efforts to repay it. Still, we seem to refuse to cancel a small debt from others! This is unfair.

Here is a story: A boy had to leave his home because he had been very bad, and his father was very angry. He had to stay away for a few weeks. But, he couldn't overcome his desires to return home, so he returned home quietly and found that the front door had been locked. He was not yet welcomed. But, his desire grew stronger, and so he checked the back door and found that it was unlocked! To his surprise, his mother was waiting there for him, waiting for him to return to her, and call her "Mother" again! This is how the Church should be: the front door to the Father is locked, but the back door is open! Lots of people are unable to get into the front door. But the back door is wide open for them - this is forgiveness. See Luke 13:6-9.

We have prayed for some people to come to church and be saved. But, most of them have not been saved. However, Jesus is praying for them, begging our Heavenly Father not to cut them off. It should be "next year" for them. Jesus is praying and begging this way every year for the Father's forgiveness.

Translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido
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