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Today's Lenten Devotion
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Bringing in the Sheep
Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.
-- Luke 15:4-5
This popular verse is from a well-known parable where Jesus uses it to explain to the Pharisees why he "hangs out" with people of questionable reputation, the unchurched. However, what I think of when I hear this passage is the LOST SHEEP. Obviously we all represent the sheep and I never understood what we were thinking. Why would we walk away from love? There is no rhyme or reason, but we do nevertheless. Some of us walk, some stroll, others run, but all of us wander away. We all get lost; some for minutes, some hours, others for days and years. We all get lost.
I for instance my church background consist of Sunday school (not church) at Brielle Church till about 10 yrs. old. Then my parents stopped dropping me off.
After Kyle was born, Denise and I went shopping for a church to have him baptized. We stopped in Holy Trinity and felt very welcome, at home even. We joined shortly after and my wife and son quickly became involved. After a year of feeling guilty about not setting a good example, I myself became more involved, men’s softball, breakfast club, Christian Ed., Etc. As I got more involved with the church I was curious to know when I was baptized. So I spoke to my older sister to get an idea of a date. I had already figured that the place must have been Brielle Church - having gone to Sunday school there. I followed up on the information I received to find out that I had been baptized, June 1958 at Holy Trinity Church. We all get lost.
But no matter where we’ve been, or how long we’re gone the Good Shepherd is ALWAYS with us, encouraging us, and guides us back to the fold. He picks us up, puts us on his shoulders, and rejoices our return to the flock. Rejoices for a sinner like me. That’s love. That is the paramount of UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
That’s what gets us through, that’s what brings us back. So this Lenten season, take the role of the Good Shepherd, gather in your lost sheep, we all know at least one, and welcome them back into the flock and REJOICE.
Jesus,
We need a shepherd to come for us, to guide us and to protect us. Lord, you are the Good Shepherd and you know your sheep by name. You gave your life for the sheep. Help us to show others the unconditional love that you show us each and every day. AMEN
Jeff and Kyle Clayton
jcdckc@bellatlantic.net
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