In Luke 15:4(CSB), Jesus tells a simple yet powerful story: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?”
The Parable of the Lost Sheep is one of the most popular parables referenced from the Bible. At first glance, it might seem reckless—leaving ninety-nine safe sheep to search for one that wandered off. But this is the heart of the Shepherd: relentless love that refuses to give up on even one. It’s not about numbers or convenience; it’s about compassion that counts every soul as irreplaceable.
Leaving the ninety-nine isn’t for the weak. It takes courage to step away from what’s secure and familiar to chase after what’s lost. It takes endurance to walk through rough terrain for someone who may not even want to be found. It takes love strong enough to risk the comfort of the crowd for the restoration of the one.
This parable reminds us that God’s heart beats for the lost—and as His followers, we’re called to reflect that same love. True strength isn’t staying safe with the ninety-nine. It’s being willing to go after the one, again and again, until they’re safely home.
Because love doesn’t count the cost—it carries the cross.
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