Read: Luke 15:1-7

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Reflect:

“There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, “All right, then, have it your way” – C.S. Lewis

Life is full of choices, even in the world we live in today. What kind of person are you?

In the verses above, Luke introduces two kinds of people who were part of Jesus’ audience. The tax collectors and sinners had open ears to listen to Jesus,while the religious people seemed to more interested in finding fault in His ministry. So, He begins with the first of three parables.

What does it mean to be lost? The sheep wasn’t probably aware of its separation from the others, but still the shepherd was in pursuit and once the lost is found there is a celebration!

In the second parable, we read of a lost coin –

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Respond:

I think we can all relate to the joy of finding something that is lost, right? Think of the joy, experienced “before the anges of God over one sinner who repents.” Repentence is found in the person who responds to God with “Thy will be done.”