Matthew 18:12-20 Jesus asked His disciples a question.. "What do you think?"  They had just been talking about coming into the kingdom with the humility of a child.. being servants instead of being the powerful leaders they wanted to be.. getting rid of anything that would cause them to stumble or cause them to be a stumbling block... and most importantly.. that the whole reason He came was to "save that which was lost.." 

"What do you think?" He asked.  What if.. you were a shepherd and one of your sheep went astray?  Wouldn't you go look for it? Wouldn't you be so happy if you found it and brought it home?  Jesus says that this is how the Father thinks... He doesn't want anyone to perish. 

What do you think?  Are we thinking about our position.. our status.. our place in the church or in the world? Or are we thinking about the lost sheep.. the child that has been caused to stumble.. the loved one that is sinking into the darkness of sin? 

Jesus said, " And if your brother sins go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.." But.. if not.. don't stop there.. take some witnesses.. take it to the church.. do whatever you can to win your brother.  And, if all else fails... "let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer".  In other words.. don't fellowship with him anymore until he repents. 

"Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  The bible dictionary says that this binding/loosing is determined by the sinner's response.  If the sinner repents.. forgive him.. loose him.  If not.. condemn the sin.. bind him.. let him go under the judgement of the law.  But.don't quit caring.. . pray.. gather others to pray.. agree and pray together!  For the Father hears and answers these kinds of prayers. Pray.. .knowing that Christ Himself is with us in this kind of prayer. 

What do you think? The Father desires that the lost be found.. that the sinner repent.. that we pray for those who are bound.. and that Jesus will be in it with us when we pray. 

Father in heaven, rescue the perishing.. care for the dying.. that is what You call us to do.. and we begin by coming together to pray.  Move in Your church Father.. that we might truly be a people of prayer.. glorifying Your Name and being a part of Your plan to save those who are lost.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.