“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’” ~ Luke 15:4-6 (NKJV)

I’m so familiar with David, the shepherd boy turned King, that I often skim past his story. David was a shepherd, but not a complacent shepherd. He risked life and limb to rescue the sheep in his care. I wondered would I have taken on a bear or a lion to save one little lamb? To be honest, probably not—at least not without a bazooka.

Vicious predators didn’t just turn and scamper away when David came to protect his flock. He had to grab those monsters by the hair and fight tooth and claw. And David was a just a kid. How can someone be that brave?

And then I think of Jesus who came to earth to snatch us from the teeth of our adversary. The Bible tells us the devil is a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). But Jesus Christ sacrificed His life to save us. No sin was too dark. No person too lost. Jesus came to save the whole world.

But even if the world only contained you – only one person … Jesus would have come to rescue you.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17, NKJV)

What thoughts come to your mind and heart when you reflect on the truth you are so valuable to Jesus that He would have come to save only you? Jesus loves you so much that He fought the enemy to save you. You are loved and never abandoned. Rejoice in His care. Will you join me in thanking God for His unfailing love and His amazing rescue?

From Living Joyfully Free, Volume 2 by Lisa Buffaloe, https://amzn.to/2IwOGtP