The Shepherd that Leaves the 99
Jesus goes on in Matthew 18:12 to say this: "What do you think? If a man owns 100 sheep and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the 99 on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?"
This is a great picture of the saving love of God. I want you to remember this: There's that song "Reckless Love" that talks about how God leaves the 99 in a reckless way. And I think it's a little bit of a misunderstanding of what's going on in this passage.
God's Saving Love
It's not a case of God leaving 99 sheep vulnerable to go and get one. No, those who are already found and who are sticking by the Shepherd are safe. He leaves them in a safe place and goes out to find the other one.
And so if you're already found by God, don't panic at the thought of Him going to find another. No. You are safe. His Spirit is in you, and as He seeks out the lost, you need not fear because He leaves you with the Holy Spirit all the time.
But nonetheless, this picture of God coming after us when we've wandered is just so powerful. 2 Peter 3:9 says that "God doesn't want anyone to perish. He wants everyone to come to repentance," and so He seeks for them.
A Call to Return
Have you strayed from God? If you're honest with yourself, have you left the congregation of God's people, the 99, and gone on your own mission? Oh, friends, God longs for you to come back and find safety in His pastures, and He will search for you and seek for you.
Maybe you need to take comfort in this as you think of some lost and wandering friends. Do you know that God is longing for them to be saved?
Reaching the Lost
What can you do to reach out to one of those lost and wandering sheep today to assure them of God's love? Maybe it's just being kind to them, reaching out, or maybe it's gotten to a point where you can share the good news with them so that they can know this God who is coming for them to save them.
May it be that today those of us already saved thank God for the way that He brought us into the sheepfold. May it be that those of us who find ourselves far from God will look up and see Him coming towards us with open arms. Let Him lead us back home.
