Scripture Reading: Luke 15.1-10

Good Morning.

What is God like? If you want to know about His heart, then carefully read this chapter with me. Three stories about something lost--all of which really grip me. Today, we look at the first two. Join me reading "The Message" paraphrase of this passage, which Luke places right in the center of the Samaria Travel Narrative~ By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled. "He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends." Their grumbling triggered this story. "Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, 'Celebrate with me! I've found my lost sheep!' Count on it--there's more joy in heaven over one's sinner's rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue. Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors: 'Celebrate with me! I've found my lost coin!' Count on it--that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God."

What do you notice first about these verses? Sinful people wanted to be with Jesus; they were attracted to Him--does that surprise you? From my brought-up-in-church mentality, this seems contrary--wouldn't being around Jesus just make them feel worse about their condition--you know, constantly judged? Apparently not. . . that intrigues me. They were open to the message of Jesus, while the self-righteous 'holy' men missed His message, and just resented Jesus for being with the outsiders. 'Oh, sure,' we say, 'we have a heart that wants to see others come to know God, just don't let them muck up our church services or ways of doing things, corrupt our kids at youth group--and don't expect me to be the one who brings them--that's what the paid pastoral staff does. . .'

Yes, these two stories Jesus tells use familiar settings to illustrate how God feels about the 'lost'. . . He would leave the 99 sheep in the fold and go after the one. . . then seeing how weary the lost sheep was from his wandering, He would pick him up, and carry him home on his shoulders. (Who do you know that has walked away from the fold? Picture Jesus, the good and kindly shepherd, going after him, searching for him, and then carrying him home. . . O, don't you see how God loves the "lost"?!)

Then there is the woman with ten silver coins, (10 drachma, about 10 days' wages for a laborer), which were no doubt given her as a wedding gift, common in Palestine. Besides having monetary value, the coins would hold a great deal of sentimental value for the woman, so she 'turns her house upside down' looking for the coin. She is so joyful about finding the coin, she can't help but sharing the news with her neighbors and friends. Twice, Jesus mentions the party in Heaven when one who was lost is found. Picture a party in Heaven with me--what would the joy of angels look like? I think we do well to picture, to see in our mind's eye, the heart of Jesus who persistently goes after 'the lost', and the tenderness with which He seeks to restore him; we do well to think more of Heaven in general, but then imagine what a party would look like there--why, you know it would be glorious! Think of the special effects, the light shows, the music. . .

Think of the heart of the loving Father today; it is His heart that all would come to Him. . . so much so, that He will continue to pursue every wandering sheep. Pray for the sheep you know today who are wandering. . . if you don't know of any, then pray for my sheep, will you? His name is Matt.

I just love the Gospel of Luke, and I can't wait for tomorrow!

Christine