Thoughts for another day

December 5, 2011

Today's verse: Lk. 15:5. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

It was a very cold night and being trapped in a bush down the face of the treacherous cliff wasn't in any way, a situation I'd imagined I'd be in.  It was dark and I knew, soon I'll be dead, either because of the cold or as prey to the many cats and wolves that roamed the hill.  I had strayed from the flock I belonged to; the further I moved, the grass seemed more inviting and tasty and soon before I could realize, I tripped over the hillside and got stuck in a bramble bush a little below the surface.  I bleated and bleated but no one came.

Now my bleating was so feeble even I couldn't hear it and I resigned myself to death.  Suddenly I heard a faint voice…Hurray, the voice of my shepherd.  I remembered Him telling each one of us 100 sheep, if you ever get lost, don't worry, I'll come and get you for I love you very much.  As His voice came closer, I put together every ounce of strength left in me and bleated loudly and soon a pair of hands grabbed me and pulled me up; He lifted me and laid me on His shoulders and stroked my wooly body.  I felt so much relief.  He said, 'I've left the 99 other sheep on the hillside and I came for you, for I know, how desperate you'd be!'  Even though I'm a sheep, a tear escaped my eye and I felt His love for me.  I knew even though none would've bothered losing me, He was and He came to rescue.  No one will know my pain in my fallen state; and when death stared me in my face, my Good Shepherd came to save me.  He gave me new life and I know I will live with Him forever.

Like the sheep above, we too often stray and fall.  The world doesn't care much. They don't see the pain we go through.  They don't even understand we need that one little chance to come back, to re-invent ourselves.  All they say is how wayward we are. But not Jesus; He reaches out even in the darkest corner we've managed to plunge into.  He finds us and rescues us from whatever mess we've gotten into, yea, He understands and saves for He said, 'I have come to seek and save the lost.' And that's what gives me hope for I know, I may stray, but He is always there to bring me back.