Luke 15:1-10
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “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? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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.’ 7 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.
8 “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? 9 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.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Reflection
In these two stories we see that God does not reluctantly save sinners. Rather, his eagerness to extend grace is clearly seen in the shepherd who searches for the lost sheep “until he finds it” (Luke 15:4) and in the woman who seeks “diligently” until she locates her lost her coin (v. 8). In both cases, Jesus indicates that God is persistently pursuing the rescue of sinners. He does not delight to see people self-destruct in sin and brokenness. Instead he has taken vast measures to save us (cf. 2 Sam. 14:14), and he greatly rejoices in our restoration (Luke 15:7, 10).
Excerpt from the The Daily Devotional New Testament, © 2014 Crossway.
Excerpt from the The Daily Devotional New Testament, © 2014 Crossway.