And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (KJV Luke 15:3-7)
This parable of the lost sheep is often viewed in the context of a person who isn’t going to church and the goal is to get them back with the other 99 attending church. While it may have some application to that kind of scenario, I think in most cases the application is something different.
At some point or other in life, you will probably find yourself in a some kind of circumstance where it feels like you’re alone or nobody really understands you or what you are going through. You may be surrounded by kind and friendly people and yet there is not a single one who can really help. Their compassion and sympathy is certainly appreciated, but is not the final answer.
Ultimately, being that solitary, lost sheep is not about being found by other sheep. It’s about being found by the Shepherd. That is the One who can help, even where other sheep cannot.
What can a lost sheep do, when they discover that they are lost? Sometimes about all you can do, is to be a bleating sheep, crying out that the Shepherd may find you as you are lost in your wilderness.
What can the remaining ninety nine sheep do, when you see that one is lost? Perhaps you can raise the alarm to the Shepherd as well, by bleating out in your concern for the one that is lost.
When we find ourselves in our lost state, we can bleat out that Christ may find us. He is always searching and will not give up or stop until His lost sheep is found and carried home upon His shoulders.