The good shepherd

I just got home from a really intense time with a friend and my heart is really heavy with the weight of the glory and goodness of God....
He is the good shepherd who left behind the whole darn flock just to chase after the one sheep who went astray tonight -- I saw Him do it. I am just amazed at the faithfulness and patience of our God that He loves strong enough to hear us say 'I don't love you, I don't believe you, I don't want you' everyday and yet He continues to relentlessly run after us and call us back to Him. And when we choose to return He doesn't hold His love over our heads to remind us of how small our love/faith is, but He runs to meet us and embraces us, covers our faults in His love! Can you believe it? Who is this crazy shepherd that risks the whole flock on the one who ran away.... He is Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever -- even when as my friend said tonight 'I am so sure of who God is and then 5 minutes later I don't know Him at all.' I am immobilized tonight under the massive weight of God's character. In the midst of seeing my friend so filled with doubt God came and made me (hopefully both of us) believe even deeper in the truth of His character.
"For thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out...I will feed my flock and lead them to rest. I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick...'" Ezekiel36:11,15-16