Found Sheep

Luke 15:3-4

I am one of those people who is constantly misplacing something. I've lost my wallet, keys, bank card, phone, pocket knife, glasses, and pretty much anything else small enough that I can put it down and forget where I put it. I'm not proud of it, but to try and deny it would be a lack of honesty on my part. What I love about our reading today is the glimpse at God's heart for lost and wayward sheep. In response to the Pharisees' verbal judgment of Himself and the tax collectors and sinners Jesus is teaching, the Lord responds with three parables in this chapter. The first is the Parable of the Lost Sheep. Jesus opens with a simple scene of a shepherd with one lost sheep in his heard of one hundred. The first thing that has always stuck out to me as a pastor is the shepherd's ability to notice one sheep missing out of his one hundred grazing. THAT is a very watchful shepherd! Secondly, the Shepherd gives the one lost sheep priority over the the other ninety-nine who are still grazing. This gives a wonderful portrait of the Father's heart, but don't forget who Jesus is speaking to... lost sinners AND self-righteous religious leaders. The latter group are the sheep left in the field (we'll talk more about them later in the week). Thirdly, notice the Shepherd not only goes searching for the sheep, but does stop until He finds it. The heart of God is for His people, and I do not believe He will stop until He has "found" all the lost sheep in His flock. God's love never fails. What a great encouragement for us today. 

Prayer: 
Heavenly Father, thank You for the revealed truth in Your Word of Your never ending love. I know I do not deserve nor can I earn Your love, but that You give it freely to me as a gift. Thank You Lord. Please help me to live a life worthy of Your love. Amen. 

Reflection: 
Have you ever experienced a moment when you knew the Lord was pursuing You and/or carrying you because you were unable to "find your way home" by yourself?