“Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.” Luke 15:1-7 NET
Good Shepherd,
Familiar words and a reassuring picture of Jesus carrying us to the safety of God’s care and into His flock. The safest place on his shoulders, up high and away from the predators and defended by his rod and staff.
This beautiful parable was an answer to derisory, sarcastic unkind words of self righteous experts in Your own Law! The created telling the creator he was doing things wrong! Mixing with undesirables. And yet as quickly as I jump to judge them I realise I may not have said anything derisory about Jesus I just discounted and ignored Him. Keep me from making judgements about people who are on their own journey with You.
Thank You for pursuing us, picking us up and carrying us and becoming our Shepherd. Guiding, keeping us safe and showing us how to be good sheep.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Good Shepherd,
Keep our family, friends, colleagues and neighbours safe and help them hear Your voice guiding and carry them when they need that extra reassurance. For those who are still scathing about our faith we pray a softening of their heart and that they would catch the sound of Your still small voice today (1 Kings 19:12). Grant them faith to reconsider who You are.
We pray for Ukraine. We pray that the meeting between Russia and China would be confusing, there would be no meaningful agreements and that they would mistrust each other.
We pray for schools and Parliament returning to a new term and the problems which concern them both. We pray for those who would see the long term value of doing things right first time, putting right the wrongs done. If justice will serve Your purposes and prevent it happening again uncover the sin.
Turning away from darkness to Your light we thank You for this beautiful autumn, a beautiful new day and everything that will make us smile today.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 9th Sept 2023
There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold,
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold;
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer: “This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me;
And although the path be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”
But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Far out in the desert He heard its cry—
Twas sick and helpless, and ready to die.
Twas sick and helpless and ready to die.
“Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way
That mark out the mountain’s track?”
“They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”
“They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”
“They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”
But all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a cry to the gates of heaven,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”
Lyrics: Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane
Though Elizabeth’s life was short, 39 years, she enriched the church by two fine hymns, the one above and the second, a bold testimony, was ‘Beneath the cross of Jesus, I fain would take my stand’.
The late Queen had several favourite hymns. On the eve of the funeral, an item on BBC late news spoke of one of them. In a clip of film, a former minister of Crathie Kirk near to the Balmoral estate told how he had put that question to the Queen herself. She revealed that it was the hymn, ‘There were ninety and nine’, based on Jesus’s Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15;1-7). It was a hymn which her late father, King George VI often sang to the young Elizabeth as she fell asleep at night.