Luke 15:3-7
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Read back over Luke 15:1-2 for context, and then read Luke 15:3-7 imagining you can hear Jesus speaking.
The wandering sheep in this story isn’t looking to be rescued. It might not even realize that it is in a precarious situation far from the flock and the protection of the shepherd. But the shepherd knows, and the shepherd goes to great lengths to search for and rescue the oblivious sheep.
Take some time to think about the meaning of this story. There are just under eight billion people in the world at present, and Jesus sought you out from among them so he could welcome you safely into his flock and care for you.
What do you want to say to Jesus about this?
Read Luke 15:3-7 again.
Jesus doesn’t explain why the shepherd would unexpectedly leave the 99 other sheep in the “wilderness” to seek after the wandering one, but because of the audience he is addressing, we can presume that there is a word of warning in this image.
The 99 were already gathered in and under the care of the shepherd before the one went astray, but they did not follow when the shepherd went out on his rescue mission. They remained in “the wilderness,” or literally translated, the “desert.”
Consider for a moment that the “desert” might be any place that is removed from the presence of the shepherd. Then consider whether there are deserts in which you are lingering while the Shepherd is moving out on his mission.
Chew all of these thoughts over in your mind and imagination for a while. Then get still and listen to Jesus.
Is Jesus inviting you to do something today?
Will you?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
