Lost
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ Luke 15:4-6
In this parable, Jesus is talking about a sheep who has escaped and is not with the other sheep. The shepherd knows when just one sheep is missing. It’s easier to search for something when you know it’s missing.
What if you don’t know a sheep is missing? Better yet, what of the sheep that is lost is still in with rest of the sheep? Afterall, maybe “the lost” is amongst the other sheep and the shepherd doesn’t even realize they’re “missing”. I’m not talking about Jesus. He always knows when someone is lost. He always knows when sheep are wounded. He always knows what’s happening inside the heart.
I’m talking about you and me. Every day we see people at work, church, or even the grocery store. They look like everyone else. You can’t tell they are lost by their appearance. Their appearance doesn’t show the “weights” they carry or the ache in their heart from grief. Their appearance doesn’t show their hurt from broken trust or why they are getting ready to walk away. Their appearance doesn’t show why they left church or why they can’t trust.
Today you will see someone you won’t even know is lost. It’s sobering to think about, isn’t it? You may be the only smile or act of kindness they happen to run into.
Today Jesus needs your hands and feet. He needs you and I to take the extra effort to help someone we don’t even realize is lost.