Devotion

The Heart of the Shepherd

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." - Matthew 18:10-14

In our world, we often think in terms of efficiency and cost-benefit analysis. Leaving ninety-nine sheep to search for one seems mathematically foolish. Yet Jesus presents us with a divine mathematics that operates on entirely different principles - the mathematics of love. The shepherd in this parable doesn't calculate loss and gain in worldly terms. He doesn't weigh the risk of losing many against the hope of saving one. Instead, he acts from a heart that cannot bear to lose even a single sheep under his care. This is the heart of our heavenly Father.

Jesus begins this parable with a warning: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones." In the context of Matthew 18, Jesus has just been teaching about humility, using a child as an example of kingdom greatness. The "little ones" He refers to are not just children, but all who are vulnerable, overlooked, or considered insignificant by worldly standards. How easily we can slip into despising the "little ones" around us. The struggling believer who asks the same questions repeatedly. The person whose faith seems weak or whose growth appears slow. The one who has wandered from the flock and appears to be making poor choices. Jesus reminds us that each of these has angels who "always see the face of my Father in heaven" - they are precious beyond measure to God.

The shepherd's response to the lost sheep reveals the character of God Himself. Notice that the shepherd doesn't wait for the sheep to find its way back. He doesn't post signs or send out search parties while he remains safely with the majority. He personally goes out into the wilderness, leaving his comfort and security to pursue the one who is lost. This is our God. He doesn't wait for us to clean up our act before He comes looking for us. He doesn't delegate our rescue to others while He tends to more "faithful" followers. The God of the universe personally pursues each wandering heart with relentless love.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of this parable is the shepherd's response when he finds the lost sheep. Jesus tells us the shepherd "is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off." This isn't mere relief - it's overwhelming joy. This challenges our human understanding. Shouldn't the shepherd be frustrated with the sheep that caused such trouble? Shouldn't he be more concerned about the obedient ninety-nine? Yet the shepherd's joy reminds us that God's heart breaks over lostness and celebrates recovery in ways that surpass our comprehension.

As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect His heart for the lost and wandering. This parable challenges us to examine our attitudes toward those who have strayed from faith or never fully embraced it. Do we write them off as hopeless? Do we focus our energy only on the "faithful ninety-nine"? Jesus calls us to have shepherd hearts - hearts that notice when someone is missing, that are willing to leave our comfort zones to pursue the lost, and that celebrate recovery more than maintaining the status quo. 

The parable concludes with the heart of the message: "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." This isn't merely God's preference - it's His determined will. He actively opposes the perishing of any soul, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being the Shepherd who pursues us when we wander. Help us to see others through Your eyes - to value the "little ones" and never despise those who seem weak or lost. Give us hearts that notice when someone is missing and courage to leave our comfort zones to pursue them. May we share in Your joy when the lost are found. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Blessings!

Will Wallace

Principal