Seek The Lost Sheep

Most of us are familiar with the image of the lost sheep. It is a metaphor that runs deep through the scriptures. Despite that familiarity, how many of us realize that we are not only called to be the sheep but also the shepherd? We are responsible for spreading the faith, especially to those who are lost. The Christmas season can be challenging for many people, but it also provides many opportunities to share the Gospel.

Gospel - Matthew 18:12-14

Jesus said to his disciples:

"What is your opinion?

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,

will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills

and go in search of the stray?

And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it

than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.

In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father

that one of these little ones be lost."

Scriptural Analysis

This illustration that Jesus provided his disciples would have been extremely familiar to the disciples. The metaphor of Israel as a flock of sheep and God as a shepherd runs throughout the Old Testament. It is seen in Psalms, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. The prophecy from Ezekiel 34 is most reflected in this story. In this prophecy, God himself says that he will become the shepherd, “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.” (Ezekiel 34:11)

For a shepherd, every sheep is a valuable asset. Therefore, the idea of leaving behind the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep is not without precedent. In Israel, the grazing land for the sheep is in the hill country. It is a long, narrow ridge-like plateau only a few miles across. There are no retaining walls and dangers on either side. At best, the pasture land was sparse, which would cause the sheep to wander.

This passage shows the depth of the Father’s love. God’s love is individual. So precious is every soul that he goes to great lengths to rescue a lost one. God’s love is patient, taking the time to find each lost soul. God’s love is a seeking love that seeks to find the lost soul. God’s love is a rejoicing love that celebrates the return of a lost should. Finally, God’s love is a protecting love working to protect each soul.

Daily Application

The message of this passage is quite clear: we must seek and save those who have gone astray. If you picture the metaphor, leaving behind the ninety-nine to find the one can be scary. That lost sheep may have climbed the mountain or found himself in a deep ravine. It can require risk-taking to seek out and find that sheep.

Perhaps nothing is more scary than when the lost sheep is a family member. They can be the hardest people to share our faith with. Yet, that is often where we need to start. When Jesus sent out his disciples, he told them to go first to the lost sheep of Israel. When he sends us out, we should follow that example, going to the lost sheep of our families. Just as the disciples faced scorn and rejection, we, too, will face that. That can be the most painful rejection we get, as the ones who should trust us most are the ones who reject us the most.

Yet, we must face this fear and be willing to be rejected if it means we can plant the seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of those who need to hear it. As we gather with our family and friends this Christmas season, pray for the strength to be the shepherd who goes after the lost sheep. Share the Gospel with your family, even if it means an awkward conversation or a quiet family meal. Our comfort in this world comes second to the salvation of souls and the life of the world to come.