"Search"

Went back to find ‘em,

But never could,

Rode and searched,

And gladly would,

Keep on a-searchin,

For those old strays,

But Dad said wait,

For better days.

So months went by,

The summer passed,

Cattle shipped,

And time went fast.

And still no word,

From anyone,

About those steers,

Out on the run.

The weather turned,

With mornings brisk,

And we like others,

Fought the risk,

And fed baled hay,

And some cake, too,

Just so’s the winter,

We’d get through.

A neighbor called,

While feeding hay,

To his small herd,

We heard him say,

I saw some steers,

They had your brand,

One black white face,

And so we planned,

To go next day,

And try to find,

Those old steers,

We left behind.

And, yes, we found ‘em,

Like he said,

We were thankful,

They weren’t dead.

Got all but one,

Penned safe and sound,

And now just one,

That can’t be found.

With yippin’ dogs,

A-trailing fast,

We were sure,

He’d not get past.

With ropes took down,

And ready, see,

We necked him sure,

Tied to a tree.

Came back with the trailer quick,

And dragged that steer aboard,

Straight on to the stockyard,

And all his wild ignored.

I have to think it’s not unlike,

That one lost sheep he found,

Searched him out and brought him home,

To familiar ground.

The value put on one that’s lost,

And time spent shows its worth,

And all who run they need to know,

It’s why Christ came to earth.

To seek and save all of those,

Who wandered far away,

Relentless love goes after,

Rejoicing in the day,

When lost sheep, coin and prodigal,

All tell the story clear,

God never will give up the search,

To bring the lost one near.

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the nonety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4, NAS)

When criticized for His fellowship with sinners, Jesus told the story of a lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son. All are powerful commentaries on the heart of God toward those who go astray. God takes the initiative in finding them and His mercy is proactive. Some find the return of the prodigal to the father who runs to meet him as the most striking picture of God’s love in scripture. Yet some go on running ignoring the only One who can end their search and restore their sanity. This is the God we serve. He sits with sinners in order to lead them home.

Lord, give us the heart that searches for those You love, in Jesus ‘name.

Art by Herman Walker, used by permission. Thanks, Herman, and God bless you.