The thorny thicket hides the lost sheep in mourning. She’s unable to escape, unable to run, unable to move. In a vast expanse of the wilderness, punctuated by ravines and thorns, the way back home is vague and uncertain. It is a battle against daily sorrow, which hinges the sheep from escaping and tracing the path toward home.

On the opposite side of a windswept hillside, the shepherd counts each wooly form with his keen eye. “Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine,” he stops on his knees aghast. “Only ninety-nine?” There is one sheep missing.

Determined to find the lost sheep, the man plunges into the darkening wilderness in search of this lost sheep who has fallen astray. With deep love for this sheep, and eagerness to find her, he leaves the remaining flock and navigates across the hill, calling out her name.

As twilight deepens, as the green tapestry of the hill turns grey, a piercing faint bleating cry of a sheep is heard echoing through the horizon. The shepherd’s eyes flash in relief as he follows the sound of the weeping lost sheep. Found in a thicket, he raises the bramble to prevent further harm on the lost sheep and gently carries her to his arms, close to his chest.

The good shepherd returns to the flock carrying the lost sheep back to the herd. Sensing the shepherd’s return, the flock greets them in a soft “baa-ful” chorus.

One lost sheep. How can Jesus even notice? Out of his boundless love for His child, He will leave the 99 in search for the lost sheep before it even goes farther away.

“So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭14‬ ‭ESV)‬‬

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus, for loving me and for dying for me on the cross. I know I am worth nothing but you left the 99 only to find me again. You could’ve just completely abandoned me for I abandoned you first. You could’ve just left me buried in the thicket till I can breathe no more. But, no. Out of your boundless love for me, you searched for me and brought me home to be with You again. Teach me how to love You the same way You love me. Heal me, restore me, so that I can serve you the way you’ve designed me to. Forgive me for all my sins. May Your Name be honored forever and ever. Amen.

Bible Verse

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” ‭‭(John‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬-‭15‬ ‭ESV‬)