“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring,” John 10:16
Have you ever studied sheep? They aren’t the brightest animals but they can teach us a lot. A great trilogy of books to read on this subject is: A Shepherd’s Trilogy by Phillip Keller. I thoroughly enjoy his insight not only as a man of God but a shepherd. Remember the story of the lost sheep?
Luke 15 narrates it for us but here is verse 4. “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” The shepherd cared enough about one lost sheep to go and find it and bring it home. What was Jesus teaching us? He cares for the one lost soul and not willing for any to perish, He will go and find that lost soul and rescue them. “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth…” (Luke 15:7)
Hark! ’tis the Shepherd’s voice I hear
Out in the desert dark and drear,
Calling the sheep who’ve gone astray
Far from the Shepherd’s fold away.
Alexcenah Thomas lived in the late 1800’s and taught school for many years. She doesn’t seem to have ever married but she stayed very busy between working in public schools, supervising fifty-nine classrooms and writing many hymns. I can imagine her telling her students the story of the lost sheep and sharing the poem she wrote about it.
The sheep had strayed far but the Shepherd didn’t give up looking for it until He found the sheep and brought it back to the fold. When we are rescued from a life of sin, it is because of Jesus’s love and mercy as He brings us to the fold and cares for us. There is no safer place to be than in the arms of our Savior. Mark 10:16 says, “And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” We will be safe in the arms of Jesus eternally.
When did Jesus rescue you? Have you shared with others how they can be safe in the arms of Jesus? Bring them in!
