What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.”—Luke 15:4–6
There are many examples that come to mind when I think of God’s kindness towards us. Jesus coming to earth and being willing to be separated from God and perfection, live with the brokenness of humanity, and die the death of the sinner springs to mind. But the story of the one lost sheep is one of my favorites because it shows Jesus’ kindness in such a practical way.
Think about a shepherd caring for his sheep out in the fields. He’s alone with his flock. His whole day is spent keeping tabs on the sheep, and his full net worth is that flock. One goes missing, and somehow, the value of one sheep alone is enough to make him leave all the other sheep to find the one that is lost.
And the question it poses to me is who is that sheep in my flock?
I’m thinking of this guy at work that takes twice as long to learn things and is struggling to keep up with his peers. There are days when I need to be willing to spend more time with him than with anyone else. Some days he is “my one.”
My child who pushes back the hardest, sometimes she is “my one.”
My friend whose faith is really hurting, sometimes she is “my one.”
You get it, right? It’s the the one who most needs me. Go after that one! That’s what Jesus did. He went after the one who didn’t do what he should have, and got himself lost and needing rescuing. That one lamb was worth it!
We have all wandered away at times and gotten lost, but Jesus never tires of rescuing us. Each of us matters that much to Him! If you do not yet know the Good Shepherd, you can receive Him by praying this simple prayer:
Jesus, please forgive me for my sins. I believe that You died for me, and I want You to be my Shepherd. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and help me to follow You closely. Amen.