The Lost Sheep

As I began to prepare for this summer, I wanted to find some scripture that was directly related to the type of ministry that I am planning to do this summer.  I wanted to find scripture about reaching out to those that have not found Christ.  I asked my DA to help me find some verses that correlated with this purpose, and that led me to Luke 15:1-7.

¹Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ²And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

 ³So he told them this parable: ⁴"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?⁵And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' ⁷Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Wow, now that is some dedication!  The shepherd left his sheep in open country and sought after one lost sheep?  Jesus sought after one lost me.  I didn't deserve it.   Heck, I wandered off!  That didn't matter though.  Christ came and found me.

This summer I need to learn from this example of Christ.  No, I would not consider myself "The Great Shepherd," but I do have a responsibility to let God use me to find these lost sheep.  Even if God will only use me to find one sheep, I am up for the challenge.

God, show me your lost sheep.  Use me to bring them back.