A Sheep Gone Astray

-- Jesus, the Good and Perfect Shepherd provides green pastures for His precious and loved sheep.

-- And we see other grass and fields and we crave that. And we run from HIm always wanting more. never satisfied. looking for a broken cistern. and we enjoy our broken cistern.

-- And He leaves the 99 to find us. He cares about us. He cares about our souls. He cares about the state/condition of our heart. Not necessarily our outward actions, but our darkened hearts. our hearts that rebelled against Him and ran from Him. And yet He wants us. And yet He wants to use us in mighty ways. And yet He wants our hearts to turn back to Him for full satisfaction. And yet He wants us to see the value and importance of a genuine, true, honest, pure relationship with Him.

Let's read Psalm 23 and Luke 15:1-7.

Psalm 23 says:
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Luke 15:1-7 says:

"Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So 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? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And 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.’ 7 Just 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."

I am a sheep, gone astray. Instead of being content with Christ's love for me, I traded it for superficial love that only lasts a little while. I looked for love in people. I wanted other things beside what God had provided. I tried to find satisfaction in anything but God's Word. I traded the imperishable for the perishable. I looked for hope and joy and peace and comfort in worldly things... And it only left me empty. And longing for more.

I'm a lost sheep that is found by My Creator! I am a redeemed sheep, who is now realizing how good my Shepherd is! I'm a sanctified sheep, who now knows that Christ is faithful while I am unfaithful.

And that is how good my God is! And that is how loving my Savior is!

He ran for me! He cares about me! He loves me!

"Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life." John 3:16