Luke 15:3-4 – Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" (NIV)

When I take the dogs walking through the woods, Earl, my cat, often joins us. He walks along very nicely for awhile, but then he scampers off into the underbrush and begins meowing, beckoning the dogs to leave the trail and follow him. The older dogs pay him no mind, but Simon, my young dachshund, often can't resist the opportunity to chase Earl, who leads him steadily deeper into the forest.

When this happens, I call repeatedly for Simon to return to me and to safety, since he is so short that he often gets caught up in tangled vines, fallen trees, and brambles, and can easily become lost.

Likewise, I, too, have often fallen prey to the tempting calls of the Earls of this world, to wander from the path of righteousness into the forest of sin, a forest that is fraught with dangers that are often masked as delightful adventures. Perhaps, you, too, have trodden this path from time to time or are even walking it now.

Matthew 26:69-75 outlines the fall of Peter when he denied knowing Jesus, as they led Him away to be crucified.

When God called Jonah to go and preach to the Ninevites, "Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish." (Jonah 1:3a NIV)

Judges 16:17-19 tells how Samson foolishly followed Delilah's wheedling to tell her the secret of his God-given strength and fell to his doom.

These are just three examples of the many in Scripture that depict for us the actions of those who have followed the call from the path of righteousness into the forest of sin. Each one of these people loved God. They were serving Him, but for one reason or another, they failed to resist the call to honour and obey Him, just as we also do from time to time. We are human beings, and thus we are not perfect. We can and do make bad choices throughout our lifetimes which cause us to wander from the One we love.

The wonderful thing, though, is that God did not give up on any of these people, and He never gives up on us either. He continues to call to us, when we have wandered away, to come back to Himself, to the path of righteousness, where we may find forgiveness and healing through His grace, mercy, and love.

May each of us this day be walking safely with God or be willing to turn around and head back into the loving arms of the One Who is calling to us.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You never give up on us. Praise Your holy name forever! In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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