Sometimes a cartoon says it all. In a "Peanuts" cartoon, Lucy says to Snoopy: "There are times when you really bug me, but I must admit there are also times when I feel like giving you a big hug." Snoopy replies: "That's the way I am . . . huggable and buggable."

I suppose we can all identify with Snoopy. There are times when we are so very nice and easy to get along with and there are other times when we say what we think and could care less how it affects others. We are huggable and buggable. God has to put up with all kinds of attitudes and actions from His people. Sometimes I hear of churches that split over matters that should never have happened. Maybe you had some difference of opinion with another believer and you have decided it best never to talk anymore. You have drawn an imaginary line and said, "This person shall not get beyond this line." Oh how it must hurt our Father in Heaven for us to act like that. I would be so disappointed in my two children or grandchildren if they had a falling out and refused to speak or forgive one another. Can you imagine how God, our Heavenly Father must feel?

Matthew 18 is a whole chapter on relationships in the church. Jesus says the greatest are the children, the little ones, those who have humbled themselves and admitted their need of a Savior and therefore have entered into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus warns against allowing sin to cause you to miss out on the beauty of relationships in the church or kingdom. In the latter part of the chapter, He warns about unforgiveness. Christians, children of God, followers of Christ must be forgiving even as they have been forgiven. He tells a parable in v.23-34 and then notice the final verse: "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

I want to look more closely at the middle verses of this chapter this morning beginning at v. 10. "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." This is more than about guardian angels; this is about the value of each little one in the church of Jesus Christ. No one is unimportant in the church. We come into the church through being born again, being regenerated, becoming children of God, and no child of God is without value. In fact each child has His Father's constant, full attention. We all enter the same way by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and we all are equally loved by our Heavenly Father. So we are not to look down on anyone in the church. Each member is important and valuable.

Look at v. 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 owner of the sheep leaves in good hands to the shepherds the ninety-nine and goes looking for the one absent sheep. He knows much about sheep. He knows they get lost easy and won't find their way home by themselves. He knows they cannot take care of themselves, so he personally goes after the stray. Why does he care? Because each sheep is of great value to the owner. Let me say that each of us are of great value to God. He loves each of His children as if each were the only one He had. How it must break our Father's heart to see what the world and Satan does to the strays who have dropped from bible study, prayer, church fellowship, and service. They could be so much happier and fulfilled if they stayed with the flock, but for some reason or another, they have wandered off. What do we do with the strays, the absentees? The temptation is to drop them, to ignore them, to pretend like they never belonged. But if we follow Christ we will not be content to leave them alone. We will pray for them, love them, contact them and we will welcome them back. Look at v. 13, "And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off" I am so thankful for those of you who have never wandered off from your church fellowship or fellowship with God. You are to be commended, but do not look down on or neglect to go after those who have.