The 29th Sheep?

What if you’re not the one lost sheep? What if you’re the 29th sheep, the 46th, 69th, or 83rd? What if you’re one of the 99 safe in the fold, but need more of God’s attention? Life seems bumpy, but generally okay, and you’re keeping up for the most part. You don’t really qualify as lost or outside, but don’t really feel inside either. You haven’t gone off the deep end or wrecked your life in some catastrophic way, but life is hard just the same and you feel lost at times. Not to mention it’s been awhile since you and the shepherd swapped sin for saving prayers and you’re not sure if He’s noticed the lapse since there’s overgrown thickets straining His earth. Do you matter?

I saw a woman today leaving the restroom as I was walking in. She looked put together in fashion, shopping list in hand, and normal as any other shopper headed for the grocery carts. Except she was crying on her way out of the restroom. She looked out of energy on a Friday afternoon, but not done with errands. Have you ever needed to sit in a bathroom stall for a sec before continuing to push a cart full of life? She looked tired. Maybe she wasn’t lost like the one sheep, but maybe she was an awfully tired number 29, 46, 69, or 83rd on a Friday afternoon. I believe Jesus calls her the ONE. Why? Because she was lost in fatigue. I believe He calls each of us the ONE. Why? Because we’re lost in ways we don’t even see.  I believe He goes out everyday calling in pursuit of us to be our friend, comfort, help, and Savior. Why? Because we’re His kids and finding us every single day in every single situation is what a Savior does. From manger to Messiah. From Christmas to Christ. From heaven to earth. It’s you He’s rescuing.

I wanted to reach out and tell the restroom lady that she’s a ONE. I wanted to reach out and tell her there was no scale for how lost or tired you have to be for Jesus to come to your thicket and pull you to His robe. I wanted to hug her and tell her He saw her and was on His way to rescue her to amazing grace and saving peace beyond a public bathroom. In this time of year, in this season of CHRISTmas when a Savior was born and a star was hung, may you feel the Holy Night soothing your soul. No matter what’s okay or not okay, may you know you are the ONE in His rescue. May you know it’s never been too long and you’re never just a number in a fold. You’re a child of the King. A sheep of the Shepherd. A soul in the Savior’s call. ONE lost, ONE seen, ONE saved.  ONE.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” Luke 15:6