Are You A Weary Wanderer Without The Best 1 Good Shepherd

Are you a weary wanderer who comes and goes without a clear path or destination in mind? Do you feel like a sheep led astray without a shepherd to guide you? There is one Good Shepherd who will not only guide you but He will never let you go! God will leave the 99 to find His 1 lost sheep.

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Are You A Weary Wanderer Without A Good Shepherd To Guide You?

As we take some time to reflect on the wanderer I think it’s best to start with the following verses.

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. John 10:1

The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. John 10:2

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:4

But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. John 10:5

Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. John 10:6

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. John 10:7

All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. John 10:8

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. John 10:9

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. John 10:12

The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. John 10:13

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. John 10:14

Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:15

I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:16

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. John 10:17

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down and the authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father. John 10:18

I want to share the words of one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s an oldie but goodie. I have a video at the bottom for you to listen to “if” you have not heard of it.

The song is a seal of a promise that though we are prone to leave the fold of God…He pursues us and brings us safely home.

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing: Song For The Wanderer

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Here there by Thy great help, I’ve come
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood.

Oh, that day when freed from sinning
I shall see Thy lovely face
Clothed then in the blood-washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy wondrous grace
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry
Take my ransomed soul away
Send Thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless…

Source: LyricFind

My Pastor recently finished a series called Tested and Approved this week which was on the Weary Wanderer. I want to share with you his guidelines on this particular service. This series made a huge impact on my life, and my prayer is that it will make a huge impact on your life too.

what does it mean to be a Weary wanderer?

My pastor described wandering as proceeding without a proper sense of direction, leading astray, and lastly turning to our own way. A weary wanderer is a person who travels around rather than settling in one place. Synonyms: traveler, rover, nomad, and drifter.

How do you know if you’re the wanderer Type?

Do you know that all of you can be labeled as a wanderer? What. You need to call it like is. Stop looking at everyone else and take a good hard look at the truth about yourself. 

You have either wandered (PAST TENSE) or you are still wandering (PRESENT TENSE) or someday you will wander (FUTURE TENSE). It’s just the way your deceitful hearts are. All are prone to wander and God’s work backs up this statement.

All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned, everyone, to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him, the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

Have you witnessed a born-again believer who has wandered away from the biblical truths in God’s word? Possibly this is you. I know speaking from experience that I have in my own life.

I have also personally witnessed this in my Church. More often than not when a child leaves the safety confinements of their home and goes off to college they can tend to be easily swayed by the influence of their peers.

You can be an active member serving in a local church and yet wander away from the truth of the gospel. Now, I realize some reading this would disagree with this statement but I have witnessed it time and time again.

The Wanderer Story from a pastor’s true story

Kurtis loved the game of basketball in school however he couldn’t play well. He loved how he looked on the court but his skills in the game were rather lacking. He spent more time being consumed by how he looked instead of how he played.

In other words, he was engaged in the game but NOT the team. If we aren’t careful that can be said of our Christian walk as well. Can you say OUCH? I told you this was good stuff on being the weary wanderer!

A weary wanderer needs a Good shepherd to lead them

Pastor Kurtis’s story led to a great ending. A fellow player asked to spend time with him. He wanted to coach him and give him pointers that led him on a better path.

Someone took the time to come alongside him and show him the correct way his life was forever changed. His love for the game changed.

That can be said about you also. You need to be the friend that will lead others toward Jesus Christ in a loving way without pointing fingers.

Sadly, we are too prone to judge WHY someone is wandering, instead of lovingly bringing them back. Don’t beat them over the head! Give them Love in truth!

Let God do the convicting. As born-again followers of Jesus Christ God uses you as His instruments to help guide and lead others.

Help guide the wanderer back to The Good Shepherd

If you notice the wanderer (whether that be a believer or a non-believer) you are called to pull them back. This is important because you aren’t promised your next breath let alone tomorrow.

One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead. Proverbs 21:16

If you are not willing to start a conversation with a brother or sister in love, or an unbeliever their blood will be on your hands. They could end up on a path of destruction and eternal damnation apart from Jesus Christ for ALL eternity.

what is The wrong way to start a conversation?

Many have the idea that Christian life is perfect when in reality we are ALL imperfect which is why we need the Cross. Remember, the church isn’t a house for saints it’s a hospital for Sinners.

Good and bad ways to start a conversation with the wanderer

1. Why haven’t you been to Church?
2. Are you even saved?

what is the right way to start a conversation?

1. How are you doing? Hear- Listen – Understand
2. What do you think God is wanting to teach or reveal to you? – Share your wandering tendencies.
3. How can I help you?

Bible verses for the wanderer: Lost Sheep Parable

And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. Matthew 24:4

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12

But you yourselves wrong and defraud, even your own brothers! 1 Corinthians 6:8

Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Psalm 103:20

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? Matthew 18:12

And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. Matthew 18:13

If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. Ezekiel 3:18

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1

Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. Psalm 32:2

But because of your hard and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. Romans 2:5

Your Turn

The best shepherd you will ever find is Jesus Christ. You are His Disciple and called to share the good news of the Gospel. If you witness a brother or sister wandering from the fold of God go to them in love and guide them safely back to the throne of God. If you know someone who doesn’t know God as their savior help them to understand they are LOST so they can be FOUND. Tell them about your Good Shepherd and lead them to the Cross of Salvation.

Hey Friend, Thanks For Reading!

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