The Parable of the Lost Sheep

 

[Jesus said] “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:11-14 ESV).

 

This parable is one of my personal favorites because I am certainly one of those “lost sheep.” Many of you know that I was not born again until I was nineteen. What you may not know is that I was a “religious” person prior to that time. While there are some gaps in my memory of my early years, I remember very well all of the time and training I received to become one of only four altar-boys to be called upon for the high masses led by the bishop of the Galveston-Houston Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. I attend parochial schools until my freshman year of high school. I knew about and practiced my religion; however, I was indeed a lost sheep in need of a Savior. Jesus, the ultimate Good Shepherd found and rescued me in 1968.

 

There are many ways to become a “lost sheep.” Mine was simply the wrong instructions. For others it may be some difficult challenge in their journey that led them to doubt or waiver. Still others may have been lured away with the enticing of pleasure, position, or other things of life. Whatever the cause, we have a Savior who cares about each of His sheep. He searches until He finds them and returns them to the safety of His care.

 

You may be thinking that you are too deep in the woods for anyone to find. I would remind you that Jesus knows exactly where you are. There is no place hidden from Him. In fact, I believe if you simply look around, you will see Him standing beside you with open arms welcoming you into His presence. That is the kind of Savior we have in Jesus!