WRITTEN BY TIM LABRECHE
I have many different responsibilities in my positions at both Side by Side Ministries and Habitué. One of the roles I hold is developing, designing, and creating any graphics that are needed. Whether it be a menu board a guest reads at Habitué, the prayer focus you’re reading online right now, or maybe a social media post for a number of pages I manage, I love designing in all of the different ways I get to. For that, I have subscriptions to two sources to get images. One is an international site that gives me access to millions of photos and other design assets that I may need from around the world. The other site is faith-focused. Whenever I need a quality image of someone praying, reading their Bible, or anything else having to do with faith, I go to this site. The images they provide are always top-notch. There is a content creator on that site that I particularly like. He’s a photographer and designer that takes the images he creates a bit farther and enhances them, making them extremely appealing.
I saw a photo on that site by that author a few months ago and I absolutely loved it. I was struck by the imagery it portrayed. It showed a baby sheep standing in the middle of the woods, dirty and stuck in the mud. Not only was the little guy stuck but he was completely separated from the rest of the flock.
Do you sometimes feel like you’re all alone and stuck in the mud? Maybe you’ve intentionally gone into the woods by making one bad decision that started a domino-toppling series of events that landed you in a place you never thought you’d be. Or possibly, you slowly and unintentionally wandered off the path, only later realizing that you were making decisions that got you stuck in the mud, separated from those you love.
If either of those sounds like your situation, know that there is hope. I didn’t mention what made me love the image. In the background is the shepherd running after the lost, little lamb. It’s pursuing it to save it from the mess it’s gotten itself into. The shepherd knew that his precious lamb was in trouble, and he was running to bring it back to safety. Why? Because the shepherd cares for and loves each and every lamb in his flock.
The imagery portrayed here is found more than once in God’s Word. One instance is found in the book of Matthew. It’s about Jesus, our Shepherd, pursuing and rescuing us. It reads:
“There once was a shepherd with a hundred lambs, but one of his lambs wandered away and was lost. So the shepherd left the ninety-nine lambs out in the open field and searched in the wilderness for that one lost lamb. He didn’t stop until he finally found it. With exuberant joy, he raised it up, placed it on his shoulders, and carried it back with cheerful delight! Returning home, he called all his friends and neighbors together and said, ‘Let’s have a party! Come and celebrate with me the return of my lost lamb. It wandered away, but I found it and brought it home.’” Jesus continued, “In the same way, there will be a glorious celebration in heaven over the rescue of one lost sinner who repents, comes back home, and returns to the fold—more so than for all the righteous people who never strayed away.”
Are you dirty and think you’re all alone? Do you think the stains of your past and your actions have distanced you from the love of your Heavenly Father? Do you think there is no possible way for redemption in your story? Jesus died on that cross for you and for me. That thing you did in the wilderness? Covered. Is that thick and messy mud covering you? It can be wiped clean. Isaiah 1:18 says, “…Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool.” You are the lamb that’s been stuck in the mud and through Jesus’ forgiveness, you can be washed completely clean.
We have all been lost at different times. We’ve all wandered off the path. Every time we do, he pursues us. The parable in the book of Luke continues with the shepherd hoisting the lost lamb on His shoulders, bringing it back to the flock, and rejoicing for its return.
You are being pursued by our Shepherd. Let him rescue you from the wilderness and bring you home.
