Matthew 17-18, Psalm 89
Matthew 18:12-14 (NLT)
“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”
In Matthew 18:12–14, we read the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus tells His disciples about a man who goes after one sheep that has wandered away from his flock of one hundred sheep. The parable shows the value that Father-God places on each individual and the great lengths He will go to seek those who have strayed. Like the man who rejoices when he finds the wandering sheep, Father-God does not want even one of His little ones to perish.
I've always loved the parable of the lost sheep, but these verses have become some of my favorites since I became born again. It took me a long time to fully accept the Lord and His teachings and to make my relationship with Father-God a priority in my life. I have an image of the Lord knocking on the door to my heart for a long time. I would partially open the door, but I didn't let Father-God fully into my life.
But that's all changed now. I ask the Holy Spirit for guidance daily, and in the last week, I've begun to ask myself whether my life glorifies the Lord. Does my life—my behavior, my actions, and my thoughts—glorify Father-God? If the Lord were to look my way, would He be pleased by what He saw and what He found in my heart? I know it will be an ongoing process to align my life with the Lord and live in a way that glorifies Him, but I know that this process will bring me peace because pleasing the Lord makes me happy.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who seeks those who have wandered because He loves them and desires to bring them back to Father-God—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment