Scripture:
[4] “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
Observation:
Wow, so much to take away from the parables in this chapter.
While it’s not the main point of this parable, I’m going to go with an observation regarding the 99 in the Parable of the Lost Sheep.
The shepherd left 99 sheep unattended while he went after the single lost sheep that was wandering aimlessly not able to find his way home. This tells me that the 99 were safe – “..in the open country”. The shepherd was confident with no worries of the sheep being scattered or attacked. While pursuing the one lost sheep, the shepherd did not endanger any of the 99, did not risk loosing any of the 99, and did not sacrifice any of the 99. They were safe.
Application:
Wandering aimlessly, unable to find our way to Him, Jesus chases after us as lost sheep. He loves us and desires to have a relationship with us.
While Jesus pursues the lost, He leaves the saved in a safe place, filled with His Spirit to protect and guide us. We are safe. We are protected. We are not endangered and he is not sacrificing a single one of as he gathers the lost.
I was that lost sheep. I thank the Lord every day that he chased after me. I was messy and broken and yet he pursued me! And He did not risk even a single saved sole while pursuing me. Knowing now that I’m no longer lost, I’m thankful He has left me in a safe place while He pursues others.
Prayer:
Thank you for pursuing a dirty, broken person like me Lord. Use me an any way You chose to share the gospel and pursue the lost. Thank you for the peace in knowing that, with the power of Your Spirit within me, I am in a safe place while You pursue the lost. Amen.