Sunday Devotions - Searching for the Sheep

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:10-14

The Parable of the Lost Sheep is one I've been familiar with since childhood. But I always wondered, why on Earth would the shepherd leave 99 to go after just 1? Wouldn't the 99 just wander off and get in trouble too? And boy, if that happened that shepherd would sure have a lot of looking to do! Why didn't he just let the one lost sheep go and stick with those 99 obedient sheep? 

Of course, it wasn't until much later that I realized Jesus was talking about people as sheep...and I was one of those sheep that he cares so very much for. God the Father knows the 99 he leaves behind will stay where they are put, his true believers.

And even though we wander, I know I've wandered, he loves us too much to just let us go and lose us. God comes after us! He doesn't wait for us to realize our mistakes and come back to the fold begging forgiveness. No! He makes a thorough search and doesn't give up until we are brought back to him. If I've wandered from God that means he is looking for me, in earnest, at this very moment.

I've had wandering moments in my life where I've felt completely isolated and alone. But I wasn't. Wherever I was and whatever I was doing God was right by my side just waiting, waiting for me to acknowledge his presence. And he's right beside you...right now.

Dear God, Thank You for searching for me when I was lost. Thank You for never giving up on me even to save others. Thank You for standing by my side, always. Your love is truly incomprehensible. Amen!