In the Western business world, certain losses are expected. Damaged goods, breakage, stains, defects, bruising or spoilage, theft, or misplacement in transit are simply written off.
In God's business, no loss is acceptable! "It is the will of Him Who sent Me that I should lose nothing of what He has given Me" (Jn 6:39; see also 17:12; 18:9).
Jesus, the Good Shepherd:
What is your assessment of the one missing sheep? How would you determine its worth? Like Jesus, would you hunt for a broken, dirty, and defective one to offer comfort and tenderness? (see Is 40:1-2) Is there anyone that you have "written off" as a loss? Perhaps this might be someone whose stain of sin is too repulsive, who has gone too far, who seems too broken to fix.
Jesus said, " 'Simon, son of John, do you love Me?' 'Yes Lord,' Peter said, 'You know that I love You.' Jesus replied, 'Tend My sheep' " (see Jn 21:16). Do you love Jesus?
| PRAYER: | "Change my heart, O God, may I be like You." |
| PROMISE: | "Like a shepherd He feeds His flock; in His arms He gathers the lambs, carrying them in His bosom, and leading the ewes with care." –Is 40:11 |
| PRAISE: | Pope St. Damasus left the world a great treasure by initiating intense Biblical studies and commissioning the translation of the Scriptures into Latin, the common language of his time. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College