Background Story: The Pharisees and teachers of the law were called to be the shepherds of the people. They were to help lead the flock towards God. But instead of taking the injured and sick lambs to God, they separated themselves from them. When Jesus, the true Shepherd came, He sought out the hurting, broken, sick, and lost.

Read Luke 15:1-7

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “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? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ 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.

Big Idea: God’s love is relentless.

How thankful I am that Jesus is the shepherd that seeks us out! When Jesus found me, I was broken, lost, and pretending. A teen with a lot of past hurts, I went to school pretending that I had it all together. Now with the creation of social media, we pretend even more. All around us are people hurting, broken, and crying out for something authentic and real. Like a puzzle missing a piece, people feel the emptiness in their life and reach out for things and people hoping to fill it. And they wonder, “Is it just me? Am I the only one who feels empty and dissatisfied?” And Satan lies whispering that everyone else is happy but you.

The truth is- God created each for HIMSELF. He is that missing piece and the internal longing of the heart. And He is reaching out to each with His incredible love. God does not want “anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9) and “demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

And we don’t have to pretend. Jesus doesn’t ask a person to be better, do better, or look better before they come to Him. He is the good shepherd who left the 99 sheep to come after the one, and reaches towards them with His nail marked hands.

What is a response we can have to this sacrificial love? Gratitude and grace. We can have gratitude in our heart for the love and mercy we received and still receive from God. And from that, we can show love and grace to others who are still far from the shepherd. Today, pray and respond in obedience to whatever the Lord leads. Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

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Song for Today:

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Dig Deeper: John 10:11-18, Mark 2:17, Luke 19:10, Psalm 23, 1 Peter 1:18-22, 1 John 3:16-19, Philippians 2:1-18, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Ezekiel 34

Similar Devotions: What Is A Follower?, What’s In Your Hand?, Nothing Is Wasted, Live Life Loud, Ultimate Miracle, A New Song, Why Am I Here?, Salt and Light, Am I Numb?

Devotions4Teens Video: Salvation in Jesus, The Gospel- 3 Minute Presentation, I Want to See