"Marco, Marco. Heee-rrrre, Marco," Mom called.

Marco gazed at Mom from his perch high up in the pine tree. A beautiful grey cockatiel bird with orange, yellow, and white markings, Marco doesn't usually fly away when he is out of his cage because his adoptive family keeps his wings clipped.

This day, however, his wings had grown long enough to fly, and in an unsuspecting moment, Marco had flown into a tall pine tree in his family''s front yard.

Mom sent for Dad, and pretty soon the whole family was outside calling, "Marco, please come down!"

They brought a musical instrument into the yard to play for Marco, but he just listened from his lofty perch. They whistled and coaxed and offered him treats. After several hours, it began to grow dark. Marco's family felt very sad as they went inside that night. Would Marco still be in the pine tree the next morning? Would he be all right? That night, everyone prayed for Marco's safe return.

The next morning the search for Marco continued. Eventually, Mom discovered Marco sitting on the branch of a hemlock tree. Dad returned with a ladder, carefully leaning it on the tree near Marco. Talking to Marco as he climbed, Dad stretched his arm high above his hand. He could almost reach Marco. Marco looked at Dad's hand, then matter-of-factly hopped off the branch and onto Dad's finger. From there, he ran up Dad's arm and returned to his favorite spot on Dad's shoulder.

The whole family rejoiced when Marco was safely home again. The first thing Dad did was clip Marco's wings. Then they all thanked the Lord for Marco's safe return.

The bible tells us that the Lord notices even the sparrows when they fall. We, much more than birds, are very important to God!

Jesus told the story of a shepherd who lost one of his sheep. You can read about it in Luke 15:4 - 7 "What man of you, having a ___________ sheep, if he loses _________ Of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the _______ which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his ____________, ___________. And when he comes ____________, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to then, 'Rejoice with me, for I have __________ my sheep which was _________!'"

Who does the lost sheep in Jesus' parable represent?" ____________ ____________ like sheep have gone astray. … And the Lord has laid on Him the ____________ of us all." Isaiah 53:6.

What was Jesus' purpose in coming to this world? "For the Son of Man has come to ___________ and to _____________ that which was __________." Luke 19:10. The verse in Isaiah tells us that all of us, like ship, have gone astray. Therefore, when Christ undertook to save the lost, that included all of us!

Did Jesus accomplish His mission? "I have _____________ the work which You have given Me to _____________." John 17:4.

Could the lost sheep do anything to save himself? Is there anything we can do to save ourselves?

The Bible is clear: Jesus rescued the whole world from sin. But He has given us freedom to reject Him as our Rescuer and our Savior. He will not force anyone to go to heaven against their will. The story of the Shepherd demonstrates God's pursuing love for us, and how unwilling He is that any be lost.

In John 10:4 Jesus said, "The sheep follow him, for they ___________ his _____________."

In our story Marco had learned to recognize the voices of his family. The familiar sounds drew him back. Did you know that from the time you were born, the voice of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, has been speaking to your heart? The Holy Spirit is our teacher, sent by God to teach us of God's love for us.

How do you think you can learn to know the voice of Jesus? "Your __________ shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the __________, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left" Isaiah 30:21.

There is good news like hidden treasure, awaiting your discovery in God's word. By reading and thinking about God's word, you will hear His voice: "Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. _____________my instruction and be _____________, and do not disdain [ignore] it." Proverbs 8:32, 33.

When we listen to His voice and follow it, we bring joy to all heaven, The Shepherd rejoiced when He had found His lost sheep, and Jesus adds, "I say to you that likewise there will be more _______________ in ______________ over one sinner who repents [appreciates Jesus' gift] than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance [those who think they do not need a Savior and refuse Jesus' gift]." Luke 15:7

You can bring joy to heaven today by saying "Thank you" to God for rescuing you. Would like to thank Him just now?

"Kind Father, Thank you for Jesus, my Shepherd, who rescued me before I even knew I was lost. Please teach me to listen to your voice, and show me how I can bring joy to your heart today. Amen."

Praise God!

_____________ * These texts are from the New King James Version, but you may use the King James or other versions to fill in the blanks.

Published in the 1888 Message Newsletter, March-May 2000.

Used with permission.

Published in the 1888 Message Newsletter