As an example of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus told the story of a shepherd who left 99 sheep and went in search of the one that was missing. It’s not that the wayward sheep was more valuable than the rest, but the man was responsible for them all and didn’t want any to be lost. At that moment, the need of the one was more urgent than the need of the many.
The shepherd made the right choice, to focus on the one.
Sometimes we don’t choose as wisely.
There can be 99 good things in our lives, and one negative, and how often do we focus on the one?
The failure. The fear. The imperfection.
One thing takes on more importance than 99 others and tips us from gratitude to despair.
It may be an area of weakness where God would like to make us stronger: a temptation we need to resist, or a responsibility we haven’t been meeting very well. Something we need to acknowledge and then prayerfully cooperate with God as He continues shaping us into the reflection of His Son.
God brings it to our attention to help us. The enemy of our souls points, mocks, accuses and demeans. We know which voice is healthy, but too often we listen to (and agree with) the poison.
Or maybe the “one thing” is something we can’t control or change: our smile, our shape, the pitch of our voice. Something we think makes us less than we long to be.
The Bible says we’re God’s handiwork and that His “workmanship is marvellous.” Our enemy says we’re defective. And fear makes us believe the liar over the Lover.
You are not defective. You’re designed by the Creator of the universe, and He loves you. (Click to tweet this.)
In the good things and in the bad, we need to keep our focus on the God who rescues and restores. Let’s remember His power and His character, and trust His plans for our lives. Let’s learn to walk in His strength and to recognize and reject the lies of our enemy.
Ah Janet,
I just finished my first stuffed Tadeo Turtle in awhile – going to make his card which says that he is not perfect but that is not what is important but that God cares for us – no matter what.
Lovely post,
If you have time share it on Wednesday’s Word.
Blessings,
Jan http://www.janiscox.com
Tadeo Turtle learned this lesson faster than most humans do! May God keep growing us to be more and more people after His own heart.
Awesome truths, Janet. Great thoughts to munch on. Such a simple thing available to every one that can make an incredible difference in our lives.
Mary, I often find the simpler truths harder to grasp. Must be something in our nature that wants to complicate everything! God grant us simple, childlike trust!