The True Shepherd

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

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. Goats are temperamental, stubborn. 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 your 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.

Be open to going after the lost ones, and pray for the Lord to show you the loss 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.