“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  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 15:4-7)

     In this parable, Jesus tells of the compassion of the one who cared for all of his sheep.  Losing one out of a hundred doesn’t sound so bad, but he cared for all of them, and if there was any way the lost sheep could be found, he would go to great lengths to find it.

     Jesus cares for all of us, and if anyone lacks faith or strays from the faith, he wants them back.  When we have the same love and compassion, we care for those who are lost.  Let’s do what we can for those who do not have Jesus in their lives.  We can give them words of encouragement, invite them for the first time or invite them back, and pray for them.  Heaven will rejoice and we will too!

Prayer: Dear Lord, your love and compassion never ends, and help us to always feel the same toward everyone.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.