One

 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” (Matthew 18:12) 

Many going in the right direction, following the Shepherd, doing as He says... 

But then there’s one wandering. 

One, just one. That’s all it takes to get Him searching.  

One wandering off, leaving the others that are doing it right.  

One forgetting to listen, failing to follow.  

One falling into a ditch, finding himself stuck on a ledge far off the path.  

One feeling alone, wondering if the Shepherd even cares.  

One starving to be found, looking up and realizing he is lost.  

One who hasn’t discovered he is lost yet.  

I see Him looking around at His sheep to see that one is gone. Suddenly His eyes go to the mountains where they just walked together –Him and all one hundred sheep.  

And now, that one single sheep is not anywhere to be seen. Did he get distracted? Did he trip and fall into a hole? Has he been caught by some wild animal?  

The Shepherd starts searching, determined that He will find. 

Have you ever wandered?  

I wonder how many of us see this question Jesus asked and wonder who “the one” is referring to?  

But don’t you know?  

If I don’t see myself in that one, do I even know anything of the grace of being found?  

If I don’t see myself in that one, could it be that I’m still wandering? Could it be that I don’t think I need rescuing? Could it be that I think I am above getting lost?  

A sheep gets lost because he isn’t paying attention to the Shepherd. And don’t we get lost for the same reason?  

It is good to recognize where I am, even if it is far away from the Shepherd. One who recognizes he needs rescuing is not far from being rescued.  

One.  

We put too much of a price on the multitudes and not enough on the one. 

The higher the number, the greater our impact.  

But what if He cares more if we chase the one?  

The one that’s hurting in the dark over there... 

The one who found himself entangled in sin and shame again... 

The one who can’t remember what the voice of the Shepherd sounds like because so many other voices have drowned it out... 

The one whose heart has grown cold and listless... 

The one who is hanging on by a mere thread... 

The one whose world is shattered... 

The one who is overlooked... 

The one whom no one sees or cares about... 

The one who cannot take one more step... 

The one whose needs are too great to be met by you, but whose needs are all met in just One –the Shepherd.... 

Do you not see? You are that one. And you are called to seek out the one. 

And until you and I see ourselves in that one, we cannot help anyone.  

Grace cannot be adequately given away unless it is first received.  

But if you have grace, then those who need grace can find it in you.  

There is only One who is an endless supply of grace.  

There is only One whose heart never runs out of love for the endlessly needy.  

There is only One good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.  

And until we truly become a recipient, the one He is chasing cannot be found through you.  

One.  

When I see myself in the one who is hurting, lost, entangled, or stuck with any other malady, when I see Him searching for me in my moments of brokenness, I am better able to see Him searching for others in their brokenness, and I am better able to participate with Him in His search.  

Grace received becomes grace given. That is how it works. I stop the flow of grace to others when I no longer believe I need it.  

So, look again at the Shepherd seeking His one lost sheep and see the magnificent grace He bestows upon you –the one who wanders- and let it push you to become a source of grace to fellow wanderers like you.  

“What do you think?” asks Jesus to you, “If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” (Matthew 18:12)