Hidden Treasure

Luke 15:3-7
Jesus told them this parable:
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Thank You dear Shepherd for diligently doing Your job twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, year in and year out. Even though You’ve always faithfully led and fed Your flock, we still tend to stray into seemingly greener pastures. Unaccompanied and lost, we fall into the clefts of corruption where we’re condemned to die. The longer we’re gone, the deeper we sink into the depression of disgrace. Alienated, we have no idea that You’ve been looking for us ceaselessly since we walked away. If only we’d cry out, You’d hear us and find us. One lost sheep matters to You.

Bruised and bloodied from the fall, You’d scoop us up in Your powerful arms. Holding us close to Your loving heart, You’d carry us to Your warm and cozy home where You’d meticulously wash our wounds and bandage our broken hearts. Ecstatic at the recovery of Your most prized possession, You wouldn’t reprimand us. Instead, You’d call all your friends and invite them to the grandest gala in all of heaven and earth. Proudly, You’d show off Your trophy of grace.

Please, dear Lord, bless me with a burning desire to search for Your missing masterpieces – fallen brothers or sisters who have wandered away from the flock. With Your strength, when I find them, I’ll pick them up and carry them into the warmth of my home where I’ll compassionately restore them. Rather than scolding them for their foolishness, my heart will leap with indescribable joy as they recover and are released to the flock bringing everlasting happiness to the Seeker of Lost Souls, Jesus. Amen.


Does it disappoint you to know that the gala events in heaven will be given when the trash of this world is found? The world’s trash is God’s treasure – those human hearts thrown out by society. Every human being is a masterpiece created by Him. His Word says, “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Proverbs 14:31

Since every single soul is inestimably valuable to Him, He doesn’t stop seeking until He finds the hidden treasure. Reap the blessings of heaven by searching for a fallen brother or sister. When you find them, be the healing hands of Jesus. Pick them up and bring them into your home. Help them heal and join God’s celestial celebration! Overwhelming joy will fill your heart.

If you’ve wandered away from the flock (the church), it doesn’t matter what you’ve done, or how far you’ve strayed. The Shepherd won’t stop searching for you until He finds you. Make His job easier. Cry out to Him. He will hear and find you. Once He brings you back, He will restore you fully, releasing you to live unashamedly in the flock.