“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
— Isaiah 53:6
Sheep aren’t very smart. They wander off, get lost, and fall off cliffs. They require constant watching. Each of us has drifted away like a silly sheep. We have left God’s well-marked paths to follow our own wrong ways.
Maybe you were raised in a Christian home, went to church faithfully, and were homeschooled until sixth grade. Then you go to public school. You expect the kids to make fun of you, but instead they invite you to games, parties, and movies. You know your parents wouldn’t approve of the movies you’re seeing, but you don’t want to look judgmental. Like a wandering sheep, you stray off a godly path. At one party, when someone produces some pills and other drugs, you nearly fall off the cliff. You come to your senses, though, and call your dad to pick you up.
When you arrive home, your dad leans over and hugs you hard. “I’m so glad you called,” he says. If you’ve wandered off the right path, it’s never too late to go home. Even if you do not have an earthly father like this one, your heavenly Father always welcomes you back home.
More To Explore: Matthew 18:12 – 14
Girl Talk: Have you ever wandered away from what you know is right? What happened? How can you get back on the path?
God Talk: “Lord, even though I know the right things to do, I don’t always do them. I know you are always there welcoming me back. Please keep me near you. Amen.”
From Shine On, Girl! by Kristi Holl