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Topic: Reward (09/27/04)
TITLE: Is it Worth the Cost? By Mary Elder-Criss 09/29/04 |
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“Nothing, Mom.”
Glancing at her from the corner of my eye as I drove slowly along the country road, I saw a solitary tear slide down her cheek before she turned her face aside.
“I’m sorry, honey.”
With those words, the dam was unleashed, and huge racking sobs shook her slender body.
“Why does this always happen to me, Mommy? I love Bruno so much, and now I’ll probably never see him again!”
Reaching over to pat her knee in an attempt to comfort her, I respond helplessly, “I don’t know, Emily, honey.”
We had purchased Emily three puppies in the last three years, and something had happened to every one of them. The first one had died from some mysterious ailment, the second two had simply disappeared. We had let Bruno out yesterday to relieve himself, and he had never come back.
Continuing up the curvy road, my windshield wipers beat out a rhythm against the pelting snow to equal Emily’s sobs.
“It’s so cold out, Mom. What if he’s out here in this storm without shelter? He’ll freeze.”
“We’ll keep looking, Emily. Don’t give up yet. Bruno’s smart, he’ll find some sort of protection from the cold. Don’t worry about that.”
“Okay, Mom.” Dully, she turned to the window again and searched the passing yards in the vain hopes of spotting her beloved pet.
An hour later, still without sighting him, we pulled into the driveway. As we trudged through the snow and slush toward the house, I had an idea.
“Hey Emily, remember that picture I took of Bruno a couple of months ago that turned out so well?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Do you know where it is?”
“Yes, it’s in my room somewhere.”
“If you go find it, I’ll scan it onto the computer, and we’ll make up some flyers to post around town. What do you think?”
Brightening, she responded, “That’s a good idea, Mom. Thanks. I’ll go get it.”
Half an hour later, I called her into the den, and showed her the first flyer for approval.
Pursuing it, she looked up at me questioningly. “This looks great, Mom, but what’s up with the $50 reward? You don’t have that kind of money to throw away two weeks before Christmas.”
“I’m not throwing it away, Emily. It is a reward for information that might lead us to his whereabouts. You’re important to me, Bruno’s important to you. The forfeiture of fifty dollars is minimal if it leads to his return.”
If this sacrifice sounds familiar, it should. Remember the story of the shepherd with a hundred sheep, and the one that becomes lost? The shepherd’s reaction was not to shrug off the missing animal, and enter him in the loss column of his ledger. Instead, he left the ninety-nine to search for the one that was missing. The reward of finding the one who had gone astray was so great that he called all his neighbors to rejoice with him over finding the missing lamb.
This story is a good example regarding what we should all be striving for in our daily walks with Christ. Many times, we forget that we were called to be shepherds, searching for those who have gone astray. We get so caught up in “works,” that we miss opportunities to rescue the lost.
We make the mistake of thinking that if we serve on one more committee, teach one more class, or attend one more service, that we have fulfilled the requirements necessary to add a jewel to our crown. Our eyes have become so firmly focused on the prize, our eternal reward, that we often stumble blindly past the missing sheep.
Although the money offered for information about Emily’s missing dog did not turn up any clues to his whereabouts, it was still a sacrifice which I was prepared to gladly make for the sake of my daughter.
Christ did not obtain His heavenly status without sacrifice. He left the splendor of heaven, in a sacrifice for us, to be born in a lowly stable. He sacrificed his blood on the cross so that we may one day enter in. He is the Good Shepherd who sought out the lost, and gave Himself for them. His Kingly reward was not earned by sitting on another committee, but by sacrificing His life for the sheep that had gone astray.
Today, what will the cost of your sacrifice be, and how great will be your reward?