Parable of the Straying
Sheep
The parable of
the straying sheep should be treasured as a motto in every household. The
divine Shepherd leaves the ninety and nine, and goes out into the wilderness
to seek the one that is lost. There are thickets, quagmires, and dangerous
crevices in the rocks, and the Shepherd knows that if the sheep is in any of
these places, a friendly hand must help it out. As He hears its bleating afar
off, He encounters any and every difficulty that He may save His sheep that is
lost. When He discovers the lost one, He does not greet it with reproaches. He
is only glad that He has found it alive. With firm yet gentle hand He parts
the briers or takes it from the mire; tenderly He lifts it to His shoulders and
bears it back to the fold. The pure, sinless Redeemer bears the sinful, the
unclean. The Sin Bearer
carries the befouled sheep; yet so precious is His burden that He
rejoices, singing: “I have found My sheep which was lost.” Luke 15:6. Let every one of
you consider that your individual self has thus been borne upon Christ’s
shoulders. Let none entertain a masterly spirit, a self-righteous, criticizing
spirit; for not one sheep would ever have entered the fold if the Shepherd had not
undertaken the painful search in the desert. The fact that one sheep was
lost was enough to awaken the sympathy of the Shepherd and start Him on His
quest. This speck of a
world was the scene of the incarnation and suffering of the Son of God.
Christ did not go to worlds unfallen, but He came to this world, all seared and
marred with the curse. The outlook was not favorable, but most discouraging.
Yet “He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the
earth.” Isaiah 42:4. We must bear in mind the great joy manifested by the
Shepherd at the recovery of the lost. He calls upon His neighbors: “Rejoice
with Me; for I have found My sheep which was
lost.” And all heaven echoes the note of joy. The Father Himself joys
over the rescued one with singing. What a holy ecstasy of joy is expressed in
this parable! That joy it is your privilege to share. Are you, who
have this example before you, co-operating with Him who is seeking to save
the lost? Are you colaborers with Christ? Can you not for His sake endure
suffering, sacrifice, and trial? There is opportunity for doing good to the souls of
the youth and the erring. If you see one whose words or attitude shows that he is
separated from God, do not blame him. It is not your work to condemn him,
but come close to his side to give him help. Consider the humility of
Christ, and His meekness and lowliness, and work as He worked, with a heart
full of sanctified tenderness. “At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the
God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people. Thus saith the
Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness;
even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. The Lord hath appeared of old
unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore
with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:1-3.
In order for us
to work as Christ worked, self must be crucified. It is a painful death;
but it is life, life to the soul. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him
also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to
revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15.
Written by
Testimonies
for the Church
Volume Six
Ellen G. White
1901
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