The Shepherd’s Heart
“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? (Matt. 18:12)
As I drove to the office after a short break, I saw a cattle running frantically to join the herd along my path. Then I remembered the herd passing by earlier, immediately my mind went to the shepherd and the efforts he was making to find this lost cow. A shepherd is a compassionate care giver.
Our Master, Jesus gave a parable comparing God to a great shepherd who would stop at nothing to have a lost soul brought back into the kingdom. While a sinner is thinking of how bad he has gone, God is concerned, “when will he return home?” All you need to do is to look away from your sin to see the love that is reaching out to save you.
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent (Luke 15:7).
The only reason heaven throws party, isn’t because a saint bought a new car. Heaven doesn’t rejoice because a saint got a new job or the barren gave birth. The only cause of celebration in heaven is that someone who once made mockery of God now believes in him. It is that a sinner repents. Do you see the love of the Father?
There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents. What are you waiting for to change your ways?
© Olusola John.