Camouflaged Sheep

DAILY BYTE

You’ve heard this week a story of sin and a story of mercy, but doesn’t God’s patience for us run a bit thin sometimes? Isn’t that why we have so many destructive ‘acts of God’ on our planet that seem inexplicable but for the fact that God is simply running out of patience with us?

Well, we read today a scripture from Luke about a lost sheep, which reminds me of a recent road trip I took through the Transkei and Southern Free State. This is a part of South Africa, which I have since discovered is quite dry this time of year and quite full of sheep.

I have never seen so many sheep in my life, and I have also never noticed how easily sheep blend into a landscape. As we drove along, I appointed myself official sheep-spotter, spotting one, no, two, no three, no – about a thousand sheep all scattered across the bush.

And I realized for the first time how hard it may actually be – to find a sheep when you’ve lost it. I had before always pictured the shepherd in this parable simply poking around the other side of a hill and voila! There lay the offending lost sheep! Easily done.

But after my adventure in sheep country, I have developed a much greater appreciation for the patience that may be required to seek out that sheep that is lost. But no matter how long it takes, no matter how hot the sun or how sharp the brambles, the parable tells us that God does not give up.

God wants to protect us from the brambly sin that entangles us, and God will stop at nothing to reach our deepest darkest parts and warm them and remould them with his flame of love for us.

We think that we can hide the ugly and strange parts of ourselves from God, but God made all parts of us and wants all parts of us – no matter how many times we seem to fail God and fail ourselves.

So, where is your sin?

It’s ok to admit it to yourself because you see - God already knows about it.

In 1 Timothy 1:17, Paul calls God, “King eternal, immortal, invisible…God who is wise…,” and even before you were born, that wise God was covering over you with grace. God will continue unceasingly, and sometimes in invisible ways, to seek out the parts of you that are lost and draw them to himself, transforming them into something that won’t cause you or others pain but something that will bring great joy.

Do you believe God has the patience to look for you and find you?

This is God’s desire – so be free to stop chastising yourself, stop dwelling on past sins and cycles that you think can’t be changed, and open yourself to the possibility that God can surround you with his reshaping fire.

God does forgive us, as we forgive each other.

So, will you let God’s grace find you today so that you may still be a sinner, but you may be a sinner whose life can be changed in the hands of a merciful God…?

FOCUS READING

Luke 15:3-7 (NRSV)

So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

IF YOU’RE FEELING BRAVE

Confess any sins that are weighing on your heart to God or to someone else who can assure you of God’s forgiveness in your life and uphold you in prayer.