Читать книгу There is Beauty Here - Rebecca Bolin - Страница 9

Day 2

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 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.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent”

—Luke 15:1–7 NIV

Don’t you find it interesting that there is more rejoicing in heaven over the one lost sheep that is found than over ninety-nine that never strayed? Why is that? Isn’t it more admirable to stay close to the shepherd and always be obedient and follow close to him? Jesus uses this parable to demonstrate his unfailing love for us. Who among us can relate to the ninety-nine? Which one of us can say that we have never sinned or strayed from the shepherd? God in his infinite wisdom knows that each of us has wandered from the fold and lost contact with the sound of his voice. He knows that we can relate best to the one lost sheep because we are that sheep. Each of us has fallen short at times, but God does not leave us alone in the wilderness to die in our sin. He comes after us because he loves us and does not want to see us perish. (See Luke 19:10). He leaves the ninety-nine, knowing they are safe and will remain faithful, and he searches for the lost sheep and finds it (us). He brings us back safely into the fold and rejoices over us along with the hosts of heaven.

To further extend the metaphor of the sheep, we move to John 10:27–28 (KJV). Jesus says: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” God has expectations that we follow him. He does not expect to continually leave the fold to go searching for the same lost sheep. If we stray, he will come after us, but he desires for us to know his voice and to stay close to him. We achieve that closeness by maturing in the word and spending time with our Lord so that we recognize his voice and obey him. When we know the shepherd’s voice, we will not be led astray or distracted by others. When we stay close to the Lord, we cannot be deceived or enticed by any trick of the enemy. No man will be able to “pluck” us from the hand of the father.

Prayer

Dear Lord, please help me to hear and know your voice and to stay close to you. Thank you for the times that you have come searching for me and delivered me from the snares of the enemy. Thank you for the times you have brought me back to the safety and security of your fold. Help me now, Lord, to remain faithful and strong and show others the way to you.