“There once was a shepherd with a hundred lambs, but one of his lambs wandered away and was lost. So the shepherd left the ninety-nine lambs out in the open field and searched in the wilderness for that one lost lamb. He didn’t stop until he finally found it. With exuberant joy he raised it up and placed it on his shoulders, carrying it back with cheerful delight Returning home, he called all his friends and neighbors together and said, ‘Let’s have a party! Come and celebrate with me the return of my lost lamb. It wandered away, but I found it and brought it home.’ Jesus continued, ‘In the same way, there will be a glorious celebration in heaven over the rescue of one lost sinner who repents, comes back home, and returns to the fold-more so than for all the righteous people who never strayed away.”‘ Luke 15:4-7 TPT
The importance of the One. In today’s society, with everyone in such a hurried state of mind, how many of us take the time to ensure that in whatever we are doing, and wherever we are, that everyone around us is included? So many times, there will be at least one that seems to be left behind, or one that just doesn’t seem to blend in with the crowd. We are taught to treat everyone the same, and to do so in love, using our Savior as an example.
In this passage, Luke is teaching the importance of making sure that the one that was lost was found and well taken care of. This is evidence of the extraordinary love our God has for us. He seeks each one of us out from our lost state, and within this love, we are drawn to Him. In His love for us, He continues to seek the lost, one by one, and to fill each of us with hope, all as we ask Him. Heavenly Father, help us to remember that in your love for us, you chose each of us, one by one, and be ever so thankful.
In Christ Love
Margaret