An Inspirational Message Based on Matthew 18:12 (NIV)
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?” — Matthew 18:12 (NIV)
In a world that often measures value by performance, popularity, or outward appearance, the love of God stands in beautiful contrast. Where others may overlook, dismiss, or abandon, God seeks, pursues, and restores. Matthew 18:12 reminds us that our Heavenly Father sees and values every soul individually. He is the kind of Shepherd who will leave the ninety-nine just to find the one. You are that one. Your worth to Him is not determined by your status, your past, or your performance—it is rooted in His divine love.
God values you differently than the world does.
While the world emphasizes achievement, wealth, beauty, or influence, God looks deeper. He searches the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Even when we feel unseen, forgotten, or undeserving, God’s eyes are fixed on us. He doesn’t categorize us based on how far we’ve strayed—He treasures us simply because we are His.
In Luke’s account of the same parable, Jesus concludes by saying, “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). This means that Heaven celebrates not just the faithful many but also the one who returns. God’s heart is not hardened by our wandering—it is moved to action. He leaves the safe place, traverses the rough terrain, and searches in the dark to bring His child home.
God loves His children personally and passionately.
John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” That “whoever” includes you. It includes the one who doubts, the one who feels lost, the one who has messed up over and over again. Jesus’ death on the cross was not just a sweeping gesture of love—it was a personal rescue mission. His pursuit is intimate, and His love is relentless.
Even when you’ve drifted, even when shame whispers that you’re too far gone, the Good Shepherd says otherwise. He doesn’t stop until He finds you. And when He does, He doesn’t scold or reject—you are lifted onto His shoulders, and He carries you home with joy (Luke 15:5). That’s the kind of love that changes everything.
You are not forgotten—you are pursued.
Isaiah 43:1 declares, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” You are not a face in the crowd or a number in the flock. You are a name etched on His hands, a voice He longs to hear, and a soul He fights for. The enemy may try to convince you that your mistakes disqualify you from God’s love, but Scripture tells a different story: nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).
Three Practical Ways to Seek the Will of God Daily and Walk Out Matthew 18:12:
Meditate on God’s Love Letter — the Bible
Begin each day by reading Scripture not as a checklist but as a love letter. Let verses like Psalm 139:13–16 remind you of your identity in Christ. Ask God to speak to you personally as you read, and journal what you sense He’s saying about your value.Pause to Pray and Listen
Create space daily to pray and truly listen. Ask God to reveal areas where you may feel lost, and invite Him to shepherd your heart back into alignment with His will. Let Him affirm your worth beyond what you do or how you feel.Extend God’s Heart to Others
Just as He pursues you, God calls you to extend that same grace and pursuit to others. Look for “the one” in your circle—the person who feels forgotten, unseen, or outcast—and reflect God’s love to them. When we live with the heart of the Shepherd, we walk in unity with His purpose.
Final Encouragement:
You are not just one of many—you are the one that matters to God. His pursuit of you is not random; it is intentional. He rejoices over you, fights for you, and calls you by name. So today, let go of striving for worldly validation and rest in the truth that your value was established by the One who left the ninety-nine just to find you. Let that truth guide your steps, renew your mind, and shape your life.