"Jesus taught a parable about a lost sheep. Remember the shepherd who left the 'ninety and nine' to go in search of the one (Luke 15:4)? When I was younger I always felt bad for the ninety-nine who were left behind while the shepherd paid so much attention to just one. Now I realize that by caring so much about the one, the shepherd was also communicating his love for the ninety-nine. What if the shepherd had said, 'Hey, I'm not going to take time to go find that dumb lost sheep. He has a big nose and frizzy wool anyway.' Even if the ninety-nine laughed, they probably would have been thinking, 'Is that how he is going to act when I get lost?' By seeking the lost sheep, the shepherd helped all the others feel more secure."
- Brad Wilcox
