Gone Astray.

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 4
HOW think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, Both he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” (Matt. 18:1212How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? (Matthew 18:12).)
Several times over that Scripture had been read in a class of little ones, and then the teacher asked them,—
“What made Him seek for that lost sheep?”
“Because He loved it," answered a chorus of young voices.
“Because it was lost," added another.
As the teacher waited a moment or two for any more answers, a little girl said sweetly,—
“And because—because He knew it would never come back its own self.”
The children were right, were they not, dear readers? And now, let me ask you, does “sought and found "make up the brief story of your life?
“Found by Him before I sought,
Unto Him in mercy brought.”
But perhaps you do not yet know that you are lost. Sad state God's Word says, " All we like sheep have gone astray "(Isa. 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6));" They are all gone out of the way "(Rom. 3:1212They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12));" The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)). Will you not give Him the joy of saying of you," I have found my sheep which was lost?”