Ninety Nine Sheep

• Printable Version - Share on Facebook - Posted by Dion Todd July 12, 2018 - Filed in Devotional - 6,322 views
  He told them this parable. 'Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.' Luke 15:3 WEB
  
  Jesus told this parable about a man that had one-hundred sheep, but one of them got lost. It was a part of His flock, but now it was separated and wandering alone. It was the shepherd's job to find them, bind up their wounds, and bring them back to the flock (Ezekiel 34:4). The sheep are never able to find the way back on their own.
  
  They were often scared, possibly injured, and may have been driven away by another in the same flock. A good shepherd would always go after them, so much so that Jesus said 'which of you wouldn't?' Sheep flock together, submit to the shepherd, and their protection is in numbers. Sheep tend to be gentle, and they are easy prey when found alone.
  
  Goats are different. We raised goats on the farm where I grew up, and I had one as a pet. Goats are temperamental, stubborn, and sometimes downright mean to others. They constantly see the grass greener on the other side and will go over the fence, under the fence, or through the fence, but they will never willingly stay inside the fence with the others. They can be a friend one moment, and your enemy the next.
  
  Sadly there are goats in the flock of God that will drive His sheep away. God cares deeply about the wounded that have gone missing, and we are to gently bring them back. No one makes it alone, for very long.
  
  One night I had a vivid dream that a friend of ours was covered in huge sores. In the dream I had a container of healing salve which I rubbed on their sores, and they were so thankful. The salve healed them. I noticed that I had not seen them lately at church, so we called them up and asked them out to dinner.
  
  During the conversation, I found that they had been hurt by someone in the church so they stopped going there. It was mostly a misunderstanding, as we knew both parties. Somehow, through prayer and the Holy Spirit, we worked through it and they started attending again. The relationships were restored. They were healed and a part of the body again. God used us to go after one that was driven away.
  
  Be open to going after the lost ones, and pray for the Lord to show you the lost that you can reach. If you are a lost one wandering alone, know that Jesus the true Shepherd, is seeking you and wants to bring you back into His family. Though hard, cold, religion salesmen may have hurt you in the past, it was not Him that did it. He would never hurt you, and He still has true shepherds out there that care for His flock.
  
  Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for finding me. Please heal me, restore me, and guide me to where I need to be. Teach me what I need to know. I yield my will to You. May Your will be done on earth, and in my life, as it is in heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
  
  Note: Ladies, today is "Thankful Thursday" at our "Ladies in Distress" group! All group members are welcome and invited to post something, whether big or small, that you are grateful for! This group is private, so if you are not a member and are having trouble joining, just post on the website somewhere and we will get you set up :). Here is the link: Ladies in Distress group
  
  
  

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