Playback speed
Luke 15:4-5
This is such a beautiful story. You can picture the shepherd as he makes sure the 99 precious sheep are safe and warm, and then trudges out into the wilderness to look for the one that was lost. It’s a heart-warming story – but it doesn’t make any sense.
Economically, why would you run the risk of endangering 99 sheep by leaving them all alone in the desert to search for just one sheep, who constitutes only one per cent of your business? Surely, the shepherd should protect 99 per cent of his business and hope that the silly lost sheep would somehow wander home.
The only explanation for a shepherd acting in this way is love. He sets out to search for the lost sheep because
he really cares for each of them. This gives us an insight into the way in which Jesus lived and worked. He spent a lot of time with people who everyone else considered to be lost causes.
He could have spent it comfortably, in Jerusalem, having interesting conversations with the religious people. But Jesus chose to go to the people who lived on the edge of society – poor people, children, women, people with leprosy, prostitutes and tax collectors. He was looking for the lost sheep.
In our churches today, we must ensure that we never stop seeking the lost. It is easy to get comfortable to shape our church life and activities to suit ourselves. But Jesus reminds us that we exist to reach out to people in his name. People who may be rejected by society and completely unlike us.
And when they turn to Christ and find new life in him – wow! We need to have a celebration!
Question
In what way are you seeking to reach the lost?
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you have been a shepherd to me. Help me to reach out to others with your arms of love. Amen
Released on 11 Feb 2024
Luke 15:8-10 Almost everyone has a moving story of a time when they lost something very precious. For me, it is normally my keys, glasses or mobile phone and, most of the time, the search concludes successfully within a few anxious minutes. I...
Luke 15:20-21 Of all the stories that Jesus told, the parable of the prodigal son is perhaps the most famous. It is a story that takes us to the heart of the good news. Can you think of anything worse than a son asking for his inheritance whi...
Luke 16:10-12 We are all impressed by competent people. People who get things done. But competence isn’t everything. A person’s character is of far greater significance. Indeed, a person who has enormous competence but a bad character is very dang...
You’re almost there! To access this content
A world of great Christian audio is just around the corner
We are SO excited to announce the return of Premier Christmas radio for a second year running! It's finally time to get festive with our pop-up Christmas radio station. Allow us to fill your days with Hope, Peace, Joy and Love this winter with our carefully crafted Christmas radio. Listen Now