Our scripture this morning is Luke 15:1-7.
Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”
In Luke 15 we have lessons about a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost man. Using these illustrations, Jesus teaches us about God’s everlasting love for us and the measures He is willing to take to save us. In order to truly understand, we need to look at all three examples.
The coin, and to a certain extent, the sheep, are not capable of consciously deciding to be lost. We as humans are responsible for our decisions and the consequences they bring. Notice in the first two passages someone goes in search of the lost, while in the story of the Prodigal Son only he can choose to go back.
We all must make that choice for ourselves, to let go of our willful disobedience and return home to God. Jesus says “there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away” (v. 7). God waits for us with open arms and the promise of eternal life.
Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we choose our own earthly desires over the blessings You have in store for us. Help us to share the joy we have found in our connection to You with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.