Ever take time to do a slow read through Scripture? I’ve been enjoying a slow read through the gospel of Matthew, even reading the footnotes and looking up some cross-references. Doing a slow read may not allow time for covering a vast number of verses, but you will dig out treasures you’ve missed in the past.

One gem that surprised me recently was from Matthew 18. The section was titled “The Parable of the Lost Sheep”. After reading the parable a few times, I finally realized that this parable was not about a lost sheep, but a wandering sheep.

Let’s review. A man has 100 sheep, and one wanders off. He leaves the 99 to go look for it. Jesus said, “And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off” (Matt. 18:13). Jesus then gives the application. “In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost” (Matt. 18:14).

Jesus had been talking about “little ones” previously in this same chapter saying, “little ones who believe in me,” basically referring to believers.

Let’s face it, many of us believers experience at least one time in our life where we wander, perhaps walk in disobedience or rebellion. It’s not a journey we are proud of, but it doesn’t surprise our heavenly Father whose love for us is not based on our actions.

If you are currently one of those ‘wanderers,’ come back to the flock. Bring joy to the heavenly Father by returning to Him. Notice Jesus included a subtle warning that a wandering sheep could eventually “be lost” and that would be a travesty and certainly not the Lord’s will.

May we sheep stick together.