Matthew 18:12-14 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray and gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go in search of the one that is lost? 13 And if it should be that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not get lost.14 Just so it is not the will of My Father Who is in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost and perish.”
This illustration truly shows us the Lord’s tender heart toward all mankind. In the poem below, the author depicts the Good Shepherd as risking His life. But we know that in real life our Good Shepherd did much more than that. He laid down His life, (no one could have taken it from Him) to save the lost sheep.
The Word of God shows the tender heart of the Shepherd in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.”
When the Lord lays someone as a prayer on our heart, I am confident that He is already at work in that other person’s life. Our nudge to pray is the Father alerting us to watch and pray as He comes to the rescue of the other person. Have confidence in our Good Shepherd, that He cares more for our loved ones than we do, and He will make sure that He rescues each and every lost sheep.
What I see in this scripture is the tender heart of Jesus toward us. He has such compassion for us, the sheep in His pasture. He willingly laid down His life on our behalf. Without His intervention, we would all be lost for all eternity with no hope of rescue. This poem written so long ago, still has the power to move my heart with tender compassion when I begin to comprehend the loving heart of the Lord. Oh, that we would follow the Savior’s self-sacrificing example and have the same compassion for the lost. Then through the powerful leading of the Holy Spirit, He would move us to action. Let us determine in our hearts to be partners in prayer with the Good Shepherd, for the lost and dying world.
The Ninety and Nine Elizabeth C. Clephane, 1868
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, Away from the tender Shepherd's care.
"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine; Are they not enough for Thee?" But the Shepherd made answer: "This of mine Has wandered away from me; And although the path be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find my sheep, I go to the desert to find my sheep."
But none of the ransomed ever knew How deep were the waters crossed; Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed thro' Ere He found His sheep that was lost. Out in the desert, He heard its cry– Twas sick and helpless and ready to die; Twas sick and helpless and ready to die.
"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 tonight by many a thorn, They are pierced tonight by many a thorn."
But all through the mountains, thunder-riven, And up from the rocky steep, There arose a glad cry to the gate of heaven, "Rejoice! I have found my sheep!" And the angels echoed round the throne, "Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own, Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!"
(This poem was also put to music and song by Acapeldridge)
There are not words enough to praise and thank our Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd for coming to our rescue and Who continues to rescue those of our loved ones who have not yet come to know Him as Savior. Oh, we need to Praise and thank Him every moment of every day for the magnificent things, seen and unseen that He accomplishes for His children on this earth!