Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, 'If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Jesus tells this parable about a lost sheep. Those who looked after the sheep from the village up in the mountains, had many dangers to brave, and they were expected to account for every single sheep. If one were lost then they would take back the skin at the very least, so of course in this parable the shepherd goes looking for the missing sheep.

But the story is about those of us who wander away from God and become lost, ignoring His call. We are the sheep, and God is the Shepherd. Reading this parable reminded me of the old hymn 'There were ninety and nine' which I learnt as a small girl, literally at my mothers' knee as she sewed. It was written for children by Elizabeth C. Clephane in 1868. I have copied out the first and fourth verses here, but it you go to the link for the 'follow-up thoughts' you will see I have found a wonderful rendition by an amazing singer who sings all four parts himself:

1) There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold;
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold -
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.

4) "Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way,
That mark out the mountain's track?"
"They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."
"Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?"
"They are pierced to-night by many a thorn."

Tuesday 11th August, follow up thoughts

Lord God,
shepherd of us, Your sheep,
we ask You to rescue us when we are lost,
and to bring us back to the safety of the fold.
Then, Lord, help us to resist the temptation
that led us to go astray,
and to stay close to You.
Amen.