Unshackled Moments ~ December 29 ~ Not So Lost After All

Sometimes we are not as quick and faithful to keep an eye on our spiritual compass or check where we are as often as we should. That, I think, is part of why so many at the end of the year, as well as the time leading up to a birthday, look back on the year and see how close to on course they are and how true they stayed on course over that period. Some may know without much review that they got off course and became a little, or lot, confused about how to get back to where they need to be. Some my not even be able to see how or where they got off track. But the truth is that we all get a little turned around and lost from time to time.

So here is a little encouragement for those who may be feeling a little discouraged and road weary from trying to get back to where they need to be, or something to remember for the next time you feel lost if that's not how you feel now.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

- Luke 15:4-7

Chances are that if you haven't read those verses before, you have at least heard the story of the lost sheep or have seen the cheesy paintings with a very non-Jewish looking Jesus walking with a little lamb over His shoulders. Jesus as the Good Shepherd, not letting anyone wander away without pursuing them, looking for them, and finding them. But have we ever really thought about this parable and what it means?

First, let's keep in mind the these 100 sheep belong to the Shepherd. They are His. We may feel lost and alone in the wilderness that we have wandered into, but we are His, the Good Shepherd's. That means that there is no way we're wandering off into the wilds outside His shelter without His awareness. I think, since this is a parable not an exact this is how it is with God tale, it's probably more along the lines of the good parent following the runaway child down the road, staying out of sight but there to rescue them if needed. Why not grab the child and force their return home? Because it is better all around for them to realize on their own that home is better and that they don't want to run away, that they want to go back. That is essentially  what it means to repent, and that is why I think that idea is in the parable as well, since Jesus speaks of the rejoicing over the repentance of the found one.

Another thing to keep in mind is that despite the paintings, Jesus doesn't say anything about lambs. These are not helpless little lambs gone astray. They are sheep, old enough and mature enough to know better, to know the shepherds voice and His care and that what He has for them in the sheltered area is much better than what's in the wilderness. Still they, or at least one of them, wander off. I fully believe it's much more than 1% of the flock in real life. The important thing is that the Shepherd doesn't stand there saying, stupid sheep knows better. I hope it suffers and gets really good and sorry it left. No. He goes after it. And when He finds it? He's not beating the sheep, He's not punishing it for being stupid. He's rejoicing and asking others to rejoice with Him.

And one last thing to keep in mind. If He cares enough to go find the lost sheep, then He cares about the 99 who stay. He's not leaving them unprotected. It's a simple parable, so Jesus isn't going into detail about how and why the others are safe, but we know they are. They are all fine when He returns with the found one. He cares for them just as much. It may not be clear in the parable how they are protected in His absence, but it is clear for us. It's simply that He is not absent. God does not have to leave one of us, or 99, to pursue the other. He is God. He is able.

So when we are feeling lost, we can know that He hasn't forsaken us. He's there making sure that the second we look back over our shoulder with the understanding that home is better, He is ready to scoop us up and rejoice. We should know better, but that's not the point. The point is the repentance. And no matter what it feels like, if we didn't wander off, He didn't forsake us to go do something more important. Just because we don't see Him or hear His voice doesn't mean that He's left us unprotected and alone. He is there. We are safe. The 99 were never in danger during the time He pursued the one. Neither are we.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

If you would like to have notifications of new Unshackled Moments and messages sent to you via email, send an email to dalynwoodard@mail.com requesting to be added to the list. You can also follow Dalyn Woodard (@Dalynsmsings) on Twitter or Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.