The Hope4Bath website, overseen by Christians from Manvers Gospel Hall in Bath, UK, enters its 100th week of publication this week. We have experienced over 84,000 ‘hits’ from 81 countries during the past 21 months.

It seems appropriate that our meditations this week should focus on three occasions in the Bible, when there is a focus on ‘ONE HUNDRED’.

“What man of you, having a HUNDRED sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing” Luke chapter 15 verse 4.

This is one of three parables told by Jesus that link together to convey the truth that He came into the world “to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke chapter 19 verse 10. It depicts a scenario with which the first listeners would have been very familiar. They knew that sheep often strayed. Left to themselves, unlike some animals, they would have been unable to find their way home. Their ‘salvation’, therefore, rested upon the skill and commitment of a shepherd to seek for and find them.

A true shepherd understood the value of just one sheep and would never have given up the search, whatever the cost. His great joy at finding the sheep was an evidence of his love and care. Indeed, he placed the animal on both his shoulders, demonstrating that he would not allow him to be lost again!

The parable confronts each one of us with challenging questions:

• Have you appreciated that you were born spiritually ‘LOST’?
• Do you appreciate how valuable you are to God?
• Do you understand that the shepherd points you to Jesus Christ?
• Do you know that He came to seek for you and save you?
• Do you appreciate that His love for you was so great that He died on the cross for your sins?
• Do you know that once you trust Him as your Saviour, you are safe forever?
• Do you know that if you trust Him, you bring joy heaven?