The One –
Today’s Encouragement is, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?” Matthew 18:12 NLT
When I had a few cattle, I always counted them when I fed them to make sure they were all ok. Probably, most animal caretakers do that.
In this parable, He taught us of the shepherd who had a hundred sheep. He knew that only ninety-nine were there, because… he counted them. Each one was accounted for. That’s our value to God. He knows us. We each matter to Him.
When one of His sheep is missing, He Himself goes searching! The ninety-nine are all together, so they are safe. That one sheep is lost, alone, and very vulnerable! So God, our Loving Father and Shepherd, comes searching for you and me when we intentionally or unintentionally wander off, get sick, or are injured. Because we each matter! We each are His!
And He can always find us! He already knows exactly where we are, what we’ve done, and He still comes to get us, to bring us Home!
We may not feel important to Him, we may think we are insignificant, but God’s word reveals the Truth. Our feelings and perspectives are often wrong!
He even rejoices when He finds us!
“And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away!” Matthew 18:13 NLT
Thank You, Father, that we are not just nameless faces in a crowd to You! You know each of us and You love us, search for us, and rejoice over us!
For The One
Bethel Music feat. Jenn Johnson
https://youtu.be/e_bj6mjUj7k?si=zpG7R6x52HyKGyG0