In Luke 15 we find Jesus telling the parable of the lost sheep.
Luke 15:4-6 KJV 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
Why did the shepherd go looking for the one sheep? There are a couple of answers to this question. One is because of his care for the one sheep. This is a wonderful picture of God’s grace and mercy. There is another answer to the question though, a simple one. He was looking for the lost sheep because the sheep wasn’t with the flock. He was lost, he wasn’t where he was supposed to be. He was never meant to be alone. Sheep are supposed to be in a flock.
We are His sheep. We are supposed to be in the flock. We were never meant to be alone. We are supposed to be joined to a body of believers.
By not connecting with the flock you open yourself up to many dangers. Because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour(1 Peter 5:8 KJV). A predator will quickly attack a sheep that is alone. We need each other. We are united to Christ like one body. And we belong to each other, like the different parts of one body belong to each other (Romans 12:5 Easy English).
Also the Shepherd is with the flock. Remember in the parable that he left the flock to get the one lost sheep. That wasn’t so he could stay in the wilderness with the one. He did this to return it to the flock. If you aren’t interested in being with the flock, how interested are you truly in hearing the Shepherd’s voice? Jesus said My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27 KJV). We should be following Him together.
Psalm 100:3 KJV Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
2 responses to “The Lost Sheep”
Very encouraging, He does see us!!!
Thank you sir. Yes He does, even when we feel alone in the wilderness. We have not strayed so far that He cannot see us.