The Shepherd Who Comes Looking

12 What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Matthew 18:12-13

I keep coming back to this story. Most of the time my eyes go straight to the wandering sheep. But today the Lord turned my attention to the Shepherd.

There have been times I drifted. Yes, even as a Pastor. Not always in outright rebellion, but in quiet distraction, growing complacent, letting my heart grow dry. Even then, Jesus never left me alone. He came looking.

What moves me most is not simply that He found me. It is that He rejoiced. The rescue was never reluctant. He delighted in bringing me back.

So when I catch myself wandering now, I refuse to hide in shame. I turn toward the voice that has been calling my name the whole time.

Lord, thank You for never giving up on me. When my heart starts to drift, draw me close again. Keep me near You, eyes fixed on the Shepherd who faithfully comes looking for His sheep.