Our Daily Bread 14 October 2022 (Friday)

Our Daily Bread 27th September 2020 Devotional – Wandering Off

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Our Daily Bread 27th September 2020 Devotional Today Message

TOPIC: WANDERING OFF

Bible In A Year: Isaiah 3–4; Galatians 6

Key Verse: “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” Luke 15:6

Today’s Scripture: Luke 15:1–7 (NIV)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 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.

INSIGHT: Throughout Scripture, people are frequently referred to as sheep (Psalms 79:13; 95:7; 100:3; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 50:6; Ezekiel 34:17–22; Micah 2:12; Matthew 9:36; 10:16; John 21:15–17). One characteristic of sheep is that they tend to wander and are incapable of taking care of themselves (as we see in Luke 15:1–7).

They need a shepherd to guide them to pasture and protect them from predators and thieves. Yet throughout the Bible we also see that sheep were highly valued. They provided food and clothing for the people and sacrifices for the temple. Sheep know their shepherd and respond to the shepherd’s voice.

John 10:3–4 describes how the Good Shepherd—Jesus—calls His sheep individually by name and leads them.

MESSAGE: Our Daily Bread 27th September 2020 Devotional

Living near cattle ranches as he did, humorist Michael Yaconelli noticed how cows were prone to wander while grazing. A cow would keep moving, always looking for the fabled “greener pastures.” Near the edge of the property, the cow might discover some cool fresh grass under a shade tree. Just beyond a broken-down part of the fence was a tasty clump of foliage.

Then the cow might push far beyond the fence and out to the road. It slowly “nibbled” its way into being lost. Cows aren’t alone in their roaming problem. Sheep also wander, and it’s likely that people have the biggest tendency of all to stray.

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons God compares us to sheep in the Bible. It can be easy to meander and “nibble our way” through reckless compromises and foolish decisions, never noticing how far away from the truth we’ve strayed.

Jesus told the Pharisees the story of a lost sheep. The sheep was of such value to the shepherd that he left his other sheep behind while he searched for the wandering one. And when he found the one that had strayed, He celebrated! (Luke 15:1–7).

Such is the happiness of God over those who turn back to Him. Jesus said, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep” (v. 6). God has sent us a Savior to rescue us and bring us home. By: Cindy Hess Kasper

Reflect: In what way might you be wandering in the wrong direction? What’s the first step you need to take to get back where you belong?

Prayer: Father in heaven, I feel lost. Have I wandered too far? Redirect my heart and show me the way home.

Thank you for reading Today’s Our Daily Bread 27th September 2020 Devotional – Wandering Off

Our Daily Bread 26th September 2020 Devotional

Our Daily Bread 27th September 2020 Devotional - Wandering Off

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