The Lost Sheep

We talked about loss in youth group yesterday.

My group read the parable of the lost sheep:

"15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
Luke 15:1-7

I guess I can only speak for myself, but when we are that lost sheep, when we are that one, we kind of tend to feel like crap. A failure. Worthless.

All of those ninety-nine sheep managed to follow direction, they managed to stick with it and not get lost, and then? There's you. Me. Why would he want that?

But you know what? God not only forgives you, he will search for you, leaving those ninety-nine, because he wants you. The lost sheep.

Pretty amazing, I think.