Good morning, Readers.
8:45 as I begin on this crisp November morning.
Matthew 18 is the subject passage of Scripture.
12 “What’s your opinion? What will somebody do who has a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides and go off to find the stray?
13 And if he happens to find it? Yes! I tell you he is happier over it than over the ninety-nine that never strayed!
14 Thus your Father in heaven does not want even one of these little ones to be lost. source
Does it comfort you that the LORD goes looking for wandering sheep?
From what I have observed, I have wandering sheep in my circle of knowledge. Perhaps you do too.
I think two indicators will identify wandering sheep (this goes for wolves in sheep’s clothing too).
- How long has it been since the sheep sat to read Scripture? I mean really read — like a whole chapter in one sitting?
- When was the last time the sheep had a decision to make and the sheep made that decision based on what the Scripture revealed?
Have you observed that sheep wandering from The Fold of GOD do not often read Scripture and do not often live by faith? They do not decide what to say, what to do, where to go, etc., etc. based on what does the Bible say about this?
Is this you? Is this any person in your circle of knowledge?
We might also describe this as straying from their upbringing.
Or ignoring the knowledge of GOD they have known since childhood?
Or perhaps they are dabbling, soaking even, in the culture around them – patterning their choices like the people on their digital screens; feeding on those screens for hours a day. These are our wandering sheep, if not pagans altogether. 
It’s frightening to me.
It is to you too, if you are not a wandering sheep, yourself.
But we can pray!
And we can take this Scripture for encouragement, for hope, and put our Trust in the GOD who spoke it.
14 Thus your Father in heaven does not want even one of these little ones to be lost.
He has sent JESUS to find them. So we pray when they are found, they will say YES and return or for the first time come to the Fold of GOD.
So, in our circles of knowledge, identify as best you can those you suspect are wandering, present them in prayer to The Father, and believe He is going for them; into whatever high place or squaller they are now residing.
Luke 18:27 “And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
What do you see in these verses? Even what I see (Scholars would surely see more) is a lot for 2 verses.
