Psalms 119:176

Alfred Shropshire Psalms 119:176

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant for I do not forget thy commandments.

Dr. David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary/explorer who led expeditions to Africa in 1854-56 and 1858-64. In 1857, Livingstone resigned from the London Missionary Society after they asked him to do more evangelizing and less exploring.

In 1866, Dr. Livingstone returned to Africa with the expressed intent to find the source of the Nile River. He lost contact with the outside world for the next 6 years. In 1869, the New York Herald newspaper sent reporter Henry Morton Stanley to Africa to find Livingstone. On November 10, 1871, Stanley found Livingstone, greeting him with the words "Dr. Livingstone, I presume" to which he responded "Yes", and then "I feel thankful that I am here to welcome you."

Livingstone never found the source of the Nile, but made many discoveries which enabled mapmakers to draw better maps of the African continent. While "lost" from the outside world, Dr. Livingstone still possessed his zeal for exploration and his Christian faith. One entry in his daily journal reads, " I place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the kingdom of Christ. If anything will advance the interests of the kingdom, it shall be given or kept, only as by keeping it, I shall advance the glory of him to whom I owe all my hope in time and eternity."

Like the Psalmist and Dr. Livingstone, we may be lost and wandering about at times, but have not forgotten who we are and whose we are. When you call to us Lord, we are thankful that you continue to seek us and are here to welcome us.

Prayer: Lord, when we wander about like lost sheep, come and look for us. We give thanks and remember that you are the Good Shepherd who loves us. Amen.