The Lost Sheep

  Matthew 18:10-14
     This is one of my favorite parables that Jesus tells.  I like sheep and sheepdogs.  I wanted to have a sheep ranch with working Border Collies in my younger days. 
     In this parable, Jesus talks about the responsibility of a good shepherd.  The good shepherd is responsible for all the sheep in his care.  If there are 100 sheep, it doesn't matter if 99 return to the fold at night.  The good shepherd goes out and searches for the one lost sheep until he finds it and brings it back to the fold with great rejoicing.
     Those without Christ are the lost sheep, and Jesus is the good shepherd.  He doesn't want to lose a single sheep.  The Bible says that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.