Stay close, the Shepherd Is Near

Stay close, the Shepherd Is Near

In a small village, there was a Shepherd who loved His sheep deeply. He knew each of them by name and made sure they were safe and well-fed every day. Among His flock was a curious sheep, who often wondered what lay beyond the green pastures.

One day, the sheep could not resist the urge to explore, so he wandered away from the flock. At first, he enjoyed his freedom, grazing in the fields and trying new plants. But as night fell, the sheep realized he was lost. The once exciting world now seemed frightening, and he felt alone and afraid.

Back at the pasture, the Shepherd noticed that the sheep was missing. His heart filled with worry, and He immediately left the 99 sheep to search for the lost one. He walked through thorny bushes, climbed over rocks, and called out for the lost sheep, determined to find him. The night was cold, and the terrain was rough, but the Shepherd didn’t stop searching. He knew that without His care, the lost sheep was in grave danger.

Finally, the lost sheep heard the Shepherd's voice and cried out weakly. The Shepherd rushed to him, finding the sheep bruised, tired, and frightened. Gently, the Shepherd picked him up and carried him back to the flock. While the lost sheep was grateful to be safe again, he bore the scars from his adventure, a reminder of the trouble he had faced by leaving the Shepherd’s care.

As the days passed, the Shepherd tended to the sheep's wounds with great care. Though the sheep began to heal, some scars would remain as a lasting memory of his time away. The sheep learned an important lesson: the freedom he sought was not worth the pain and the fear he endured. There was no better place than with the flock, under the Shepherd's watchful eye.

This story reminds us of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Jesus loves us and cares for us deeply. When we wander away from His care, He comes looking for us because He doesn’t want to lose any of us. But when we stray, we often face difficulties and hurts that leave lasting scars. These troubles could have been avoided if we had just stayed close to Jesus.

It’s comforting to know that Jesus will find us when we’re lost, but it’s even better to stay close to Him, where we can be safe and cared for. Being part of the flock, under Jesus' care, is the best place to be. There, we grow, flourish, and enjoy the fullness of His blessings.

Read Luke 15:3-7