[FamilyofGod] The Lost Sheep
The Lost Sheep
Jesus Christ says, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?" (Luke 15:4). Here we see Jesus Christ talking about one lost sheep; but before the sheep was lost it was one among His herd. We can take the one lost sheep as a person who had accepted Jesus Christ and now gone astray or as a person who has not accepted Christ and living in the worldly pleasures because Bible says, man is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26) and all the people are His creation.
In Luke 15, the first parable tells of Jesus as a Shepherd coming in search of one lost sheep (Luke 15:4-10) and the second parable tells of God as a Father waiting for His lost son and the son's repentance (Luke 15:11-24). Dear brethren, are you the one who has accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and now lost (gone astray) finding it hard to pray, wavering in mind during praying, not able to read and meditate Bible, not having the joy and peace of Jesus, not having interest in Bible reading and praying; or never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Jesus Christ is searching for you and waiting for you to come to Him with a heart of repentance.
Whatever may the condition or situation you are in or entangled with sins and worldly pleasures, the Lord says, "I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." (Isaiah 44:22). God has already paid a hefty price of sacrificing His Son Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. We need to only receive Jesus Christ in our heart and receive the forgiveness of our sins at the foot of cross.
God wants us to understand His love and He did it by giving His only begotten Son Jesus on the cross to take away the sin that separated us from Him. (For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16). Yes, by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the penalties for our sins were paid and we receive forgiveness for our sins and a new life in Him, so that we have fellowship with Lord God our creator.
Bible says, the younger son analyzed his own situation. "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." (Luke 15:17-19).
Dear brethren, examine yourself and know the status of your relationship with Jesus Christ. Are Bible reading, prayer and songs of praising God a delight to you or is it not interesting for you anymore and hard for you to spend even five minutes in His presence? Go to our Lord Jesus Christ in prayer with a heart of repentance; as the father waiting for his son to return, Jesus Christ is waiting for you to return to Him.
Bible says, "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him." (Luke 15:20). Yes, as you go with a heart of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ, with full of love and compassion He will come to you, receive you, hug you and fill you with His love, peace and joy. He will rejoice in you and the heaven will rejoice in you. (I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7). The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Prayer
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving-kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. (Psalms 51:1-12). In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.
Jesus Christ says
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. (John 6:37)
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Love & Prayers,
Michael J. Knight.
http://groups.
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, "I used everything that you gave me."
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