Counting Sheep

One of the (if not the most) beautiful truths in all of existence is that God loves us. His love is what draws us to the cross of Christ, yet as believers one of the hardest truths to accept... is that God loves us. We feel unworthy to be called beloved by Him, so we try to preform to earn what He has already lavished upon us. Then we subtly believe that His love for us is insufficient for us. 

Perhaps we can find love that is more satisfying elsewhere, the deceiver says.

From the arms of the shepherd the sheep looks beyond the care of the other 99, and sees water running in the streams, he sees animals running and grazing, and he sees promising shelter. Then, as the sheep gazes over the hedges of the fold, he wonders off to what he thinks is grassier lands. Upon arriving in where he thought would be green grass, flowing waters, and ripe vegetation, he finds the river dried up, the trees unable to bear fruit, and the grass brown and tasteless. Oh, the shame that comes at the realization of leaving such a wonderful place like the arms of the shepherd. How could he ever return? The shepherd could never welcome him back... he has gone too far. But no, amidst these self-inflicting thoughts of despair and self-hatred, he looks up to see the shepherd having never left his side; having left the 99 to restore the one that wondered off to the safety of His protection. With love and grace in His eyes, the Good Shepherd takes up the sheep, and begins the journey back to the pasture; where life and joy abide. Oh, the comfort and peace of being held in the caring arms of the Shepherd, may we rest there and believe it is enough for us.

All of us are somewhere in this story. 

We may be enjoying the life and protection of the shepherd. 

We may be tempted beyond the hedges of the pasture. 

We may be wondering off into what we were deceived into thinking was more abundantly full of life.

We may be finding ourselves shamefully far from Him.

We may be held by the Shepherd as he carries us back to the fold.

The point of the story is the magnify the immense love the Shepherd has for His sheep. No matter where they are, He is there. 

But we learn another lesson here.

Imagine being one of the 99 who sees the one wonder off. What are their thoughts as he goes? What are their thoughts as he is lost for days/weeks/months? How do they react as they see the shepherd returning with the lost sheep? Is it out of love? Do the other sheep rejoice at the return of the lost sheep? 

Or do they look down on the sheep who so foolishly left the fold? "How could he?" They might ask. "We would never have expected that from him. He was doing so well..." 

So often in the church these are the subtle thoughts among the 99, when we ought to have the posture of the loving Shepherd. 

"We love because He first loved" is a love that believes in, walks alongside, and reveals hope for a future full of life. It is a love that tenderly engages the darkness with light. It is a love that seeks to understand and empathize. It is a love that will continue through the entire process of wrestling.

Will you believe that with me?