The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

Jesus said, "Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it?" (Lk 15:4 TM). Do you recall when you were that one lost sheep? Do you remember when Jesus found you? Where would you be without Him?

Eighty percent of Jesus' listeners made their living off the land. Many were shepherds living on the mesa with their sheep. No flock ever grazed without a shepherd, and no shepherd was ever off duty. When the sheep wandered the shepherd found them. When they fell he picked them up and carried them. When they were wounded he healed them. Sheep aren't smart; they tend to stray into running creeks for water, then their wool grows heavy and they drown. They need a shepherd to lead them to "still waters" (Ps 23:2). They have no natural defense -no claws or horns. They need a shepherd with a rod and staff to protect them (Ps They have no sense of direction. They need someone wise enough to lead them "in paths that are right" (Ps 23:3). So do we. We tend to drown in circumstances we should have avoided. We have no natural defense against our enemy who goes about as a "roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1Pe 5:8 NAS). We, too, lose our way, don't we? No doubt about it, we need a shepherd. We don't need a cowboy to herd us, we need a shepherd to care for us and guide us-aren't you glad we have one!