Then Jesus told them this parable: “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? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ’’ Luke 15:3-6 NIV
In Luke, chapter 15, we find three parables that give us insight into the heart of God. The first reveals that God has the heart of a shepherd who cares about every individual sheep. In the story we’re told that one sheep is lost, but we’re not told how he got lost. Maybe he saw something of interest and wandered off to explore it. Or perhaps he wasn’t paying attention and didn’t move on when the rest of the sheep followed the shepherd in a new direction. He could have been wounded or sick and unable to follow. However it happened, he found himself alone and away from the protection of the rest of flock and the shepherd who watched over him.
Have you ever found yourself in this situation? Lost. Alone. Frightened. Unsure, perhaps, how it happened but struggling to find your way back. If that’s you today, know this: Your shepherd is looking for you! He doesn’t just care about everyone else, He cares very deeply for you! In fact, He will leave the ninety-nine in the open country because He doesn’t want you to be isolated and vulnerable.
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?” Luke 15:8
Just like one lost sheep is valuable to it’s shepherd, a lost silver coin is worth the effort it takes to find it. You too, beloved, are extremely valuable in God’s eyes! How long does God look for the one who is lost? Until he is found! Then He joyfully carries the exhausted lamb home on His shoulders!
The third parable reminds us that God sees us as family. The one lost in this story is not just a silver coin, or even a lamb, it’s a member of the family, a beloved son, who walked away from the family to look for something better. Though the heart of the father is clearly broken, he gives his son room to grow. He affords him time to learn, through experience, that the best place to be is home with the family. He patiently waits for his lost son to return. And finally the day arrives when his son comes to his senses.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.” Luke 15:17-20a NIV
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 17:20b NIV
How could the father see his son while he was still a long way off? He was watching for him! He missed his son! He rejoiced when he saw him and greeted him, not with condemnation, but with open arms.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:21-24 NIV
This is the heart of God!
So what can we take away from these three parables? Two lessons.
- If you are lost, isolated and struggling to find your way back, be encouraged. You are an important member of God’s family. He values you and what you bring to the table! He has not given up on you and will not rest until you are back home in the fold.
- If God has made you a shepherd over people, He expects you to shepherd with His heart. He wants you to see the value in the one, not just the ninety-nine. Go the distance to find those who are isolated from the rest of the flock and carry them back home.