Rejoicing In Heaven Over One Sinner
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to
hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man
welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Then
Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses
one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after
the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on
his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together
and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the
same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t
she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And
when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says,
‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you,
there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who
repents.”
Luke 15:1-10
Until the day I was found, I didn’t know I was lost. I was going
about business as usual, moving from task to task, distraction to distraction.
And then something happens. We hear from a long lost friend or relative.
Someone dies or we get a good or bad health report. All of these set the stage
for a life change. The Bible talks about lost sheep, lost coins, and the lost
son. Whenever we wander away from God, whether intentionally like the prodigal
son or unintentionally like the sheep, God looks for us.
To be found we need to realize God is looking for us and admit
that we are separated from Him. By giving up our
waywardness, we can be reunited with Him and restored to His family.
To be found, you must admit you are
lost.
Our Daily Bread –