The three stories in this chapter comprise an incredible truth from God on value.
The Lost Sheep:
You’d think that leaving 99 sheep alone might be foolish but a shepherd knows that the 99 will be ok together whereas the lost one would be in danger. The value of the lost sheep drove the shepherd to both risk and to rejoice.
The Lost Coin:
Palestinian women received 10 silver coins as a wedding gift. So to lose one of them was both the loss of something of monetary value as well as a loss of sentimental value. It would be like losing your wedding ring today. This led to both an extreme search and eventually extreme rejoicing.
The Lost Son:
So in this story you have the selfish son wanting his inheritance early so he could leave and truly “enjoy life.” He soon learned the truth of 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “If man will not work, he shall not eat.” He blew it all and now was hungry and in need, bad enough that he was willing to eat even the pig slop! Then God grabbed his heart. He recognized he had sinned against GOD and his dad, in humility sought forgiveness and was welcomed back by a father running to him! Incredible!
So here’s the KEY: All three stories teach us what is truly valuable! We first see the hint of this in verse 2 when the religious peeps are put out because Jesus “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” In telling these stories, Jesus points out that what His Father values most is SOULS, not animals or coins. I believe this because at the end of each story He states it:
Verse 7: “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.”
Verse 10: “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Verse 32: “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."
SO WHAT?!
*What are you valuing today, right now? Are people (souls) more important to you than “stuff?” Look at where you spend your time and money – that’s a good indicator. Always remember, only 2 things in life last forever: God & His Word and the souls of men & women. Lord, please help us to pour our lives into these two things!
*How do you respond to God’s grace & mercy on others? Are you like the brother of the lost son who had a hard time accepting his brother back and was jealous? We can tend to want grace & mercy for ourselves but want God to give others “what they deserve” so they’ll learn! Let’s love mercy & grace everywhere and rejoice over the things God rejoices over!
MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK:
“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." – Luke 15:10
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