Rev. George Miller
Feb 25, 2026
Matthew 18:10-14
Last week in Minneapolis was the funeral
for Dr. Willa Grant Battle, the single most influential person in my faith
journey. She died at the age 101.
Last September, I got to sit beside her
and preach before her at Grace Temple Deliverance church, where I attended in
my 20’s.
One thing about Dr. Battle is that
although she was instrumental in Civil Rights and ran a mission in Haiti for 8
decades, when she preached it was about you, it was about us, it
was about overcoming mountains, confronting ego, and finding healing in the
Lord.
Her message was to those who felt like
lost sheep. Or a tired sheep. Or a sheep facing dark valleys.
Dr. Battle’s message was consistent- God
is good. In Christ we are saved,
redeemed, and welcomed in the Tent of the Lord.
Thank God for Dr. Willa Grant Battle who
ministered from the 1950’s to 2026 reminding everyone who entered Grace Temple
that God’s eye is on the sparrow, which means that God’s eye is on you and you
and you.
This is a lovely message as we continue
our Lenten walk to Jerusalem. The theme
is “All We Like Sheep” from Isaiah 53:6.
The full verse is “All we like sheep have
gone astray; we have turned in our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the
iniquity of us all.”
All we like sheep have gone astray.
And we hear Jesus say in Mathew 18 “Guess
what- the eyes of heaven are upon you.
If a shepherd has 100 sheep and one goes astray, the Shepherd will go
into the mountains and valleys, the shadows and thorns, and search for the one
who has gone astray.”
It is a beautiful image. To think that God loves us that much.
To know that when we have those moments where
we lose our way or we get caught up in the briars and thorns, that God will
seek us out, and we are found.
Tonight we are going to do a
reflection.
Think of a time in your own life where you
went astray….
Now, think of someone you know who is
currently like that sheep who has gone astray…
Take a moment.
Say their name in your mind.
Cover your heart and say their name
again.
Now imagine that wherever they are,
whatever they are going through, the Good Shepherd is coming to them, ready to
lift them up, to carry them, if they are willing and ready.
Now let us take a moment of silent prayer
to lift that person up…
Tonight we continue our path to Jerusalem,
aware of our mortality, our brokenness, our tragic mistakes.
Knowing what it is like to feel lost, to
feel scared and to wonder “Does God care?”
“Does God know?”
“Will Heaven’s eyes smile upon me.”
“All we like sheep?”
Amen.
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