What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
---- my own,
Consider yourself the lost sheep. See yourself far away from home, alone, friendless, in the cold in the wilderness, with no hope of ever being found and restored to the people and places you have known and loved.
Now think of how it makes you feel that I, Good Shepherd, and My Father will, without a second thought, leave the ninety-nine sheep and go in search of the lost one. We will not rest until the one that is lost is found, comforted, healed, taken care of, and carried if necessary, and restored to the rest of the flock. Such is the love of God, ---- mine.
This is why I say to you over and over again, and so does My Father: Be not afraid, have no fear, do not be anxious about anything. Why do you worry? Why are you anxious? Why do you go about burdened and heavy laden when I have revealed to you the love of God?
Is there any greater love than this ever known, that God who so loved the world that He sent Me, His only and most beloved Son, into the world, not to punish the world for its wickedness and its faithlessness, but to lay on Me the punishment for the sins of the whole world beginning with the sin of Adam until the sins of the last man? I paid the ultimate price with My life so that I, by entering into your death, could make it possible for you to receive the life of the Son of God.
The Father loves you. I love you, and the Holy Spirit living in you enables you to experience the abiding love of the Father and the Son. So why are you afraid? Why question? Why doubt? Why are you despondent and sad? Why do you feel discouraged about the faithlessness of man when God is at your side, above you and below you, at your side on the right and the left, and within you?
Do not be anxious about anything, ---- my own, but have this confidence in Me that I, who shed every drop of blood in atonement for your sins and for your redemption, have opened the way to the Father's house so you may enter and live and reign with Me as My bride forever and ever.
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