Ref. DLG B4 : The Lost Sheep

''  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it ?  '' Luke 15:4 

The lost sheep is the focus of the seeker , even though there are ninety and nine sheep remain . This emphasize  that  one lost sinner is worth saving and sacrificing for . The Lord knows those who are his and he is working strenuously for their salvation and deliverance . The sheep are usually used in the scriptures to represent the children of God , for instance Isaiah said ''All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ''  Isaiah 53:6 

When God's children are said to be lost , it means they are living in sin and iniquity , and that the devil is controlling their destiny . The lost sheep is symbolic of those beloved children of God who are gone astray from the path of righteousness . In contrast the remaining sheep are God's beloved children who are following and serving God faithfully. Jesus said , '' And other sheep I have , which are not of this fold , them also I must bring , and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepherd . '' John 10;16 

Yeshua was referring to the lost sheep when he said  '' other sheep '' who are not in this fold .Jesus mission is seeking and searching for this lost sheep { sinner } at all cost . One may argue that  the owner had to focus on the many sheep  , instead of searching for just one missing sheep . Jesus . however was stressing the relevance of one sinner in God's kingdom . How important it is to pursue the lost at all cost , because they have to come and join the sheep ; the fold of Christ . 

This means that their place is vacant in God's kingdom , and God's rightful place in his kingdom . Why sheep get lost is because they do not follow the voice of the shepherd  who is Christ { don't obey the word of God } '' And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.'' John 10;5 

The lost sheep also follows strangers , listen to strangers voice , is symbolizing strange doctrines and the devil's deceptive voice , they are usually behaving like Adam and Eve , who practically followed the devil's voice and disobeyed the word of God . { Genesis 3:1-11 } 

Prayer  

Lord of salvation , saviour of the world , locate my soul and deliver my life from perishing and use me to save the lost in the name Yeshua .