"If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? 

Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?

And if he finds it, 

I tell you the truth, 

he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away!

In the same way, 

it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish."

Matthew 18:12-14 NLT

Jesus still has this child with him in the middle of the group of his disciples.

This idea of one wandering off and being searched for is not unconnected to those things Jesus has been talking about:

Have faith like this child.

Be humble like this child.

Welcome this child, and others who are small, overlooked, powerless, and you're welcoming Jesus.

Dont exploit or abuse  those same small, overlooked, powerless people.

And now Jesus uses the picture of a shepherd who knows his sheep, who knows when one has wandered off, and will search for them.

Even if you've felt unknown, disregarded, lost, Jesus loves you like this shepherd loves.

Searching.

Not giving up.

Because you are Beloved.

#wordsofJesus 

#redletterBible 

#youareBeloved