The Black Sheep— Many of us are familiar with this modern phrase which “labels” those who have “wandered away” from God, family, or society and are going their own way. Usually, they are known for being ensnared by evil…their ways are not good.
But Jesus doesn’t “label you”. He loves you and you are precious to Him. Yet, He does see that you, perhaps, have “gone astray” and “are lost” and may be in “deep trouble” from not staying near Him. Therefore, He will seek you out. Until He finds you. He desires your return into His Arms.
Full of love and compassion toward you, He desires to find you, that you will let Him in, so He may get you out of whatever mess you discover your sin has gotten you into. Believe me, our choices to sin have “consequences”! …some long-lasting or devastating …and the longer a person remains “as a sheep who has gone astray”, the more entanglements that can bind or ultimately destroy them and others. You may not even realize you are “caught” or “snared” right now, but you are, if you are not walking with Jesus.
I have GOOD NEWS for YOU, even if you see yourself as the Black Sheep.
Jesus wants to lift you up out of the consequences of your sin and carry you upon his shoulders, leading you out, as your Good Shepherd, as much as He wants to save you, as your Savior. God can lift you up and out of any thicket or deep pit into which you have fallen, if You will let him find you. Amazing revelation of the Lord’s heart toward you is found in Luke 15, which we will look at in a moment.
Some wandering sheep HIDE, or run further away, for they are afraid to BE FOUND. They are afraid of punishment, judgment, ridicule, of further rejection. I am convinced that you fear repenting because you are ashamed. You are not sure how you will be received back into the fold. You “feel” like an outsider…unaccepted. Yet you must let the sweet conviction of conscience lead you into Jesus’ forgiving and loving arms, and not allow Satan’s heavy condemnation, cast upon those in iniquity, to keep you running away from The One who desires to, and CAN, help you! The Lord Jesus desires you and desires your company. You must decide to trust His love, not rely on Your given fear. You DO have a choice. Jesus will not take away your free will… but you are never “free” until you know and follow Jesus, whose will you were “created” TO follow.
Let’s look at how our scriptural passage, Luke 15:2-7 begins, so you may “know” your Jesus, a little better. We tend to trust only those we know, right?
This passage begins with people who came to hear Jesus, but then murmur among themselves concerning Jesus, saying, “This man receives sinners, and eats with them!!” They thought this pretty horrible, as they were considered “righteous” themselves, and Jesus was now going to be instructing them as they gathered. “Where were Jesus’s high standards?” they thought to themselves. I assure you, Jesus does have high standards, and his standard of love and patience with people is high too.
Yes, having been a black sheep myself, righteous people, though meaning well, can be judgmental toward one they have labeled as “a black sheep”. Maturity eventually brings them around to understanding that it is “sin” that was judged by God at the cross, placed on Jesus, and that the sinner is to receive the freedom purchased. And until the sinner does, they will BE a sinner, and can’t lift themselves up. Jesus condemns the sin in us, while fully loving each one of his creations.
So… this is how Jesus, the GOOD Shepherd, responded to these righteous people…
He spoke these words from his mouth:
Luke 15:4-5
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the 99 in the wilderness, and GO AFTER the one which is lost, UNTIL He find it? And when he HAS found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing!”
Now, take time to look at the picture of the black sheep, on the first page, and meditate on this truth…
He doesn’t yell at the wayward sheep, kick it, make it follow behind the flock in shame, kill it for it deserves it, etc.
He lifts HIS sheep, He smiles, He enjoys its company, and the sheep rides upon Him in its weakened state (probably needing some mending, which the Shepherd will do).
He is excited and happy! He has HIS sheep! Yes, he owns you, but praise God he does!
As the sheep, you are now safe and secure. You need not worry about being in the enemy’s hands any longer!
Luke 15:6
And when he comes home, he calls together HIS friends and neighbors saying unto them, “REJOICE WITH ME! For I have found my sheep which WAS LOST.”
Now, all those acquainted with Christ will also share in the rejoicing! For they see the Lord’s happiness of your return!
Luke 15:7
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner THAT REPENTS, more than over 99 JUST PERSONS which need no repentance.”
Imagine that! When you return, then all of heaven will be full of great joy!
What is delaying you?
Who is delaying your return?
I declare to you, that you are free to return. You don’t have to be perfect to be picked up. Just repentant. It is just your heart’s desire crying out in surrender, “Jesus!” – for he is “seeking” to “save you” even with this article I now write in His Name.
It says in this passage that He will “GO AFTER” the one who is lost, “UNTIL” He finds it. I’m sure you “know” in your heart if he is going after you. You sense Him drawing you near. He knows his sheep and those who will be his sheep.
My testimony – I was once The Black Sheep:
Jesus sought me out too. I know, firsthand, what I share herein is very true of the Lord…and what He has spoken of throughout all of Luke 15 was a reality in my own life.
I had been a wandering lost sheep and a prodigal son, and I can tell you this, I never ever desire to depart from the Lord or his flock (believers in Christ) ever again!! It is the most miserable life one can live: knowing you are “a sheep” but not “with” the Shepherd or walking together with His Flock! You can’t enjoy “the World” for Jesus is seeking after you, and you can’t enjoy “Believers” for you are not one in Spirit with them. So, you are just plain miserable! You “feel” like you’re “not worthy” and “black with sin” and “looked down upon by others” …yet somehow, deep inside, you know God loves you…still… for He is continually seeking to save those who are lost.
I went away from the Lord Jesus as a teenager. Though I had made Jesus my Savior as a young girl and followed his ways for years, it was in “my head and not in my heart” …from the law not from the spirit” …and so as an older teen I wanted my own way, and certainly desired no one dictating to me what I should or should not do!
My rebellion landed me in with a wild bunch… almost too eager to include me, “the pastor’s daughter” in their riotous living. Satan’s lies led me astray, thinking I was “missing out on something” out there “in the world”. I had immoral relationships trying to find love, and unchristian friendships to share in my rebellion, and I did all the worldly things that God hates, called “sin”. Now cleansed and forgiven, I will not elaborate on my sin, for those things I did remain shameful to me. I do not blame others, for I was even “a leader” in that wayward lifestyle, using this leadership attribute of my character for the “wrong side” …advancing the kingdom of darkness more than the kingdom of God, in those days.
AND THEN, the thicket I found myself entangled in was indeed very ominous: I, a 17-year-old pastor’s daughter, discovered myself unwed and pregnant, ostracized by people around me, unable to fulfill my plans for college, and not having a clue what to do. I discovered myself as “lost” in so many ways. Was I even saved? Was I loved? How could I ever amount to anything? How could I have been so foolish as to go away from God? I saw my true condition was that I was lost, and I was astray. I had no relationship with God, so how could I call upon Him to help me? How could I possibly cope with all my “consequences”? I lost a four-year bible college scholarship; I was in a loveless relationship with a man who wasn’t a believer and so I knew I had no desire to marry him; I had caused chaos in my household as my sin caused my pastor father to feel he needed to resign the church; Then, my four other siblings were angry with me for we had lived in the same area over 10 years and they’d have to leave friends and school. I had a baby on the way that I felt so immature and scared to raise. I was truly “the black sheep”! My life was in total and utter chaos!
Suddenly, due to the visibility of my sin of being pregnant, I was despised by the “righteous ones” in my small town, for I caused so much scandal and pain by my sin. But true believers loved me still too…weird, how that was… but I now understand, they only wanted me to “be sorry” for my sin, enough to repent. They saw my folly before I did. They saw the deceitfulness of Satan’s lies in my life. They saw how my sin, sinned against others. I had been tangled up in a web of deceit!
And yet, Jesus himself lovingly reached down, lifted me up, and set me in with the flock… once again loved and accepted. I had to repent first. And repent I did. And I was cleansed by the blood of the lamb as I laid my sin upon Christ, yet again. This time really understanding my commitment. And then Jesus began to work inside of me, and God began to put the pieces of my shattered life back together. He used his people (believers) to help me get my life back on track. Upon returning to Him, I knew I wanted to do things His way, and not my own way. I knew I would now choose God’s plans over mine. Our local church would not accept my father’s resignation; they instead, reached out to us all, and especially me, in Christian love. In fact, I discovered my true friends were the ones with Christ in them, not my worldly friends. My worldly friends naturally abandoned me as I came to Jesus.
The family stayed loving and true as I sought the Lord. Within the fullness of months, God blessed me with a wonderful son, who is loved dearly to this day and is now a family man himself! I left the sin behind and clung to Jesus, and even more so, He clung to me. God put all my black sheep’s life behind me, and even took the stain of my sin away, making me clean and pure through Jesus’ blood, which purchased me from the Kingdom of Darkness. Oh, it is indeed joyful and blessed to be Lifted Up by Jesus!
There is a scripture that says those who are forgiven much, love much! This is why I am so committed to Christ!
He forgave me so much!! So now, many years later, I give testimony that when I returned way back then , and let Jesus “carry me upon His shoulders”, joy-peace-righteousness (the kingdom of God within) returned as part of my daily life. He transformed my life immediately, and although nearly 50 years ago, He continues the process of transforming me. Hallelujah!
I must give my full testimony, now, and tell you that my sin’s consequence carried on to my first son, causing him pains of rejection, questioning of his belonging, and battling of low self-esteem, for our sin never affects only ourselves. Sometimes these are the very struggles that cause one to become “a black sheep” too. When I did marry, my first husband loved the son we had together differently than my firstborn and it caused marital strife, making even worse sufferings for him. Then my son’s pain, as an adult, intensified as he tried to find his real birth father. He contacted a man he believed was his father, yet that man rejected him as a son, refusing contact. Later, my son discovered his birth father had died many years prior and the man really wasn’t his dad, so of course he didn’t want his own family disrupted. My son had years of anguish and feelings of rejection due to my sin. My heart grows heavy when I think of how my sins have affected others. I have told him how sorry I am for my sin affecting his life.
Regrets may not ever go away, friends, even when sin is forgiven. You may be free, and forgiven, but you may not be able to free someone else of the pain your sin has had upon them. This is why, if the Lord is speaking to your heart to return unto Him, you should not delay.
Sin is damaging! It is destroying! You are being “blackened” with sin and that’s why, if you are feeling conviction within and knowing inside that you are a black sheep, it is because the Good Shepherd is seeking you now!
NOW is the time to return…not a month or a year later.
You could marry the wrong person, go into the wrong line of work, miss God’s plan for you, or you could die and go to hell. The rapture could take place leaving you to go through the tribulation, or a nuclear strike upon your land could wipe out your existence before giving you the opportunity for returning to Christ. The risk to wait, to repent, and come upon Jesus’s shoulders, is a huge risk! I am recognizing an urgency for this message to be written. Maybe it’s just for you!
Jesus is a Good Shepherd, and He gives his life for His Sheep… and they hear His Voice… and He takes full responsibility for “leading”. We only need to follow. And sometimes He carries us.
Psalm 23 also says, “his rod and staff, they comfort us”. He uses these to ward off the enemy or bring us back closer to Him lest we wander off.
So, to close, I believe this is for someone who will hear the Lord’s voice today, saying:
“It is you I seek out.”
“Will you allow me to lift you up?”
“Will you return and repent?”
“Do you realize I am able to heal you and put the pieces of your life back together?”
“Heaven will rejoice at your return. And so will I!”
Read Luke 15…the whole chapter… to know the Lord’s heart toward you.
You’re invited to return to or come to Jesus. You have free will, but He IS seeking you out to save you.
He awaits you with open arms, a loving heart, and an anticipated relationship!
Do not resist his tug upon your heart! This is the Holy Spirit drawing you to salvation.
Today is the day, if you hear his voice, harden not your heart.
How do you return?
Just cry out to Jesus in repentance using your own words of surrender.
Or, if you prefer to have me lead you, pray this prayer:
Father,
Please… forgive me for all my sins and for wandering away from your will and purpose…and deliver me, Lord, from going my own way, and not caring about your will for my life. I accept you, Jesus Christ, as my Savior, and receive now your blood to wash away all my sins. Untangle me from my sinful ways and from any people or circumstances that cause me to sin, that I may enjoy being close to you, and yes, joyful, knowing I’m clean! Put me on the right path, leading somewhere: toward peace, joy, and righteousness! Let me know your perfect will for my life, filling me with the knowledge of you, Jesus, and you, God my Father, through your Word. Begin “fulfilling me” in my day-to-day activities, replacing sinful habits with good ones. You are my creator and know my purpose.
Please undo all the damage that Satan has caused by my living my life my own way and sinning against you.
Keep me mindful of what is right and pleasing in your sight, as your ways become written upon my heart over the days ahead. Lead me now. Lift me up! And carry me. Mend me, for I was indeed lost, and now need rescuing and healing, and “loving on” by someone I can trust. Thank you, Jesus, that your love has “found me” today. I receive your love as the air I breathe. I believe I am a new creation and am given your own divine nature, so I can do all you desire me to do. Breathe life into me as I now come to you, Jesus. Fill me too, with your Holy Spirit, that He will teach and instruct me in righteousness and tell me day by day what you have to say. I will believe and receive now your forgiveness and salvation… your love, your counsel and wisdom, your acceptance, and your joy!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
He loves you, dear one!
Let him lift you up and carry you out of darkness and into His glorious light!
You may have to be carried upon his shoulders for a time, as you mend from being ravaged by sin and its consequence… but enjoy that closeness as He draws you near to himself, for sweet fellowship and healing! Be confident! He has found you! He is Rejoicing! When let down to walk on your own… feeling healed, whole, and free… you can then follow him closely through life… safe and secure in his loving care.
To close this chapter, I want to share a piano instrumental that I wrote called “Longing”. I encourage you to go to the link and press play, but then, just close your eyes, and let the music minister to your spirit. Realize the Lord is longing for you, just as you are longing for Him. This is why I gave this song the name.
Here is the link:
Longing – Elizabeth Ann Smith – Receive From Me