IN the Highlands of Scotland the common occupation, is taking care of sheep, as the hills cannot be cultivated; so it is an easy matter for the sheep to wander away in such places in search of a little better pasture. Then the shepherd and shepherdess, may go out in search till they find them, and then very often carry them home, as they are generally weary and worn. Had they only stayed where the shepherd had put them, what an amount of trouble the little things could have saved themselves. But, no doubt, they are glad they are found and the shepherd and shepherdess rejoice, too, that they have found their lambs.
The Lord Jesus, while He was here on earth, uses an instance like this to show His love for the lost and straying sinner. In that well known 15th of Luke, He says, “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, cloth 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 neighbor, 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.”
The Pharisees and scribes were finding fault with the Lord Jesus because He was receiving sinners, so the Lord Jesus shows them that sinners are like lost sheep, and He was like the shepherd that was going after them, until He found them, and that He would have joy in bringing the lost ones home.
May each of my readers take the place of the lost sheep, if you never have done so before, and know that the Lord receives such and will take them safely home to the glory. I trust that the following lines may be the utterances of all my readers.
“Now I have seen Thee and found Thee, For Thou has found Thy sheep; I fled, but Thy love would follow, I stray’d but Thy grace would keep. Thou’st granted my heart’s desire, Most blest of the blessed is he
Who findeth no rest and no sweetness. Till he resteth, O Lord, in Thee.”
Messages of God’s Love 9/6/1908