The wonderful words of our Shepherd; our Lord; our God

"What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance". Jesus Christ (Luke 15:4-7)

I will be the first to confess that I sometimes get caught up in reading the letters of Paul, Peter, Jude, James, and John in the New Testament, more than the 4 Gospel accounts, because of the 'task theology' nature of the epistles that strongly appeal to the defense of the Christian Faith. However I was struck with tears after reading these simple but eternally powerful words of our Lord and Savious Jesus Christ. I am going to make a point of reading the Gospels more frequently as the words of the Lord are so extraordinary, so clear, and cut right to the heart. How wonderful it is that our God speaks of His love for us as the love of a shepherd for his sheep! 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' The Creator of heaven and earth, in all His might and power, has such a love for His sheep that He wants none to be lost. Might we never find ourselves forgetting about the love of our God - that He greatly rejoices, along with all of heaven, when the lost of His flock repent and are carried back to the fold on the shoulders of our Shepherd.