Lost Sheep

I headed out to jog the other day, excited about the sunshine and warm Colorado weather, when a large, brown Labrador began to follow me. More accurately, I followed him but could not get him to leave me in peace. He ran just a tad in front of me and would veer into my side or stop, forcing me to run around him and begin the process once again. This continued for several miles. The dog's loud panting concerned me. Was he thirsty or just out of shape? I was a bit irritated and yearned for quiet and space, and yet, I feared that the dog was lost. Several trucks drove down the country road, and I waved them over to inquire about possible owners - to no avail.

The story of the lost sheep popped into my head. Jesus told this parable when the pharisees complained about the time Christ spent socializing with sinners. In the parable, Jesus shares about the forgiveness He extends to sinners such as you and me.
"Then Jesus told them this parable: 'Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not 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: 3-7)

This parable commences with a sheep, not a Labrador, who strays from his home. Any of us who is not in Christ, not abiding in the Word, not rooted in the Vine, not spending time in prayer...strays from his intended home. Apart from God, we are all lost. We don't even know our purpose in life without God. Each of us has sinned (Romans 3:23) and yet, because of Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross, we are healed and made new. We can become in Christ what we could never be without him - healed, righteous and saved.

The shepherd in this story is not irritated at us as I was at the dog who accompanied me. Jesus, a compassionate shepherd, values and loves each sinner who has gone astray. Christ's love for us led Him to die on a cross and take on the punishment that we, sinners, deserve to bear. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2: 24-25)

Like the shepherd in the parable, Christ rejoices when we find our way back to Him. He is the Good Shepherd who saves us, His lost sheep.

By the way, I did eventually help the Labrador find his way home. As I returned on the original path I had taken, we passed a little yellow house with a white picket fence. Inside the fenced yard played a little boy, no older than 7. I asked him if he knew whose dog this was still panting at my side. "That's my dog," he nonchalantly replied. He had not been concerned that the dog was lost. Evidently, the dog must frequently wander away from home. The young boy came around and brought the dog back into the yard with him, acting as if this were a regular occurrence.

Dear God,
Apart from You, I am lost. Keep me close to You so that I can be the person You created me to be. Thank You that You are my Good Shepherd who continues to find me when I go astray. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Free in Christ!

Before going to pick up our daughter in Vietnam, my husband and I made lists of essential items to bring on the trip.  Garth is a bit of a germaphobe.  He was worried about the drinking water in Vietnam, and so he brought a water purifier and iodine tablets to rid our drinking water of bacteria.  Luckily, we were able to purchase bottled water in Vietnam.  However, in a Vietnamese store, we saw one brand that bore the following words on its label: "Free Bacteria." This was obviously a grammatical mistake. Needless to say, we did not purchase this brand of water!:)

John 8: 31-35
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
They answered him, "we are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Later in John we read,

Jesus said: " I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

What does it mean that the truth will set us free?
Academic organizations will use the phrase stated by Jesus, "The truth will set you free." to posit that knowledge will open a new world to us and allow us to better understand what we experience in life. Yet, I don't think this was Christ's intent when He made the statement.  His words had nothing to do with classroom learning.  Jesus was speaking about a different sort of knowledge. Christ had just spoken at the temple where He was explaining that He is not of this world.  He was telling those gathered that we will die in our sins if we do not put our faith in Him (John 8:23-24). Many believed in Jesus because of His teaching that day (John 8:30).  Jesus then spoke to His followers: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" (John 8:31). Christ was implying more than academic knowledge.  His followers "hold" to His teaching or Word. His Word gives them an understanding that brings freedom - freedom, not from governmental oppression but from spiritual oppression. We are free from sin and the anxiety it brings to us.  In verse 35 of John 8, Jesus says, "Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever."  If we do not know Christ, we are slaves to sin. Yet, if we "hold" to his Word and know that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, we become His adopted children and, despite not being biological descendants of Abraham, are now members of God's family. Those who believe in Christ as the Truth are free from sin and are invited into the family of Christ.

What does this mean to me? I may still have to worry about bacteria, but my conscience is clear, even when I do stupid things or make mistakes, or say something fallacious - because I am free in Christ.  I can live unburdened in the knowledge that my Savior loves me and forgives me.  Praise be to God!