Great Joy
He
said, "Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Won't he
leave the 99 in the open country? Won't he go and look for the one lost sheep
until he finds it? When he finds it, he will joyfully put it on his shoulders and go home. Then he will call his friends
and neighbors together. He will say, 'Be joyful with me. I have found my lost
sheep.'
"I
tell you, it will be the same in heaven. There will be great joy when one
sinner turns away from sin. Yes, there will be more joy than for 99 godly
people who do not need to turn away from their sins.
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. She
will light a lamp and sweep the house. She will search carefully until she
finds the coin. And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors
together. She will say, 'Be joyful with me. I have found my lost coin.'
"I
tell you, it is the same in heaven. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who
turns away from sin."
Jesus continued, "There was a man who had two sons. The
younger son spoke to his father. He said, 'Father, give me my share of the
family property.' So the father divided his property between his two sons.
"Not
long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a
country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. He spent everything
he had.
"Then
the whole country ran low on food. So the son didn't have what he needed. He
went to work for someone who lived in that country, who sent him to the fields
to feed the pigs. The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs
were eating. But no one gave him anything.
"Then
he began to think clearly again. He said, 'How many of my father's hired
workers have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger! I will get
up and go back to my father. I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned
against heaven. And I have sinned against you. I am no longer fit to be called
your son. Make me like one of your hired workers." 'So he got up and went
to his father.
"While
the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender
love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The
son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no
longer fit to be called your son.'
"But
the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.
Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattest calf and
kill it. Let's have a big dinner and celebrate. This son of mine was dead. And
now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.'
"So
they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:4-24
Have
you felt abandoned before? Even if you feel far from God today, you are highly
valued by Him. He is searching for you.
Those who have been found should seek the lost.
Our Daily Bread –