Tuesday
Read: Luke 15:1—16:31
SOAP: Luke 15:4–7
“Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.”
Devotion
As we reflect on today’s passage, we can find great comfort in the way Jesus promises to seek and save the lost. And, when the lost return to Him, God welcomes them as a compassionate Father, rejoicing in their return.
We also must ponder from these passages how we as believers in Christ view the lost. The Pharisees and religious leaders had become prideful—like the older son and the rich man—and believed they deserved salvation because of their obedience to the law. They looked with contempt at those they considered “sinners,” those Jesus looked at with love and compassion.
How do you view those who do not know Jesus, attend church, or have a Christian worldview? Jesus’ specific warnings in this passage were to the religious leaders who believed they were justified by their actions. While we know and believe that our justification comes through Christ alone, it can be easy to fall into a mindset similar to that of the religious leaders.
Jesus came to save the lost—which each of us were at one time, or perhaps you are right now. He will not leave any one of His lost sheep. Like the good shepherd, Jesus will go to great lengths to save His own from death. He knows what it takes to reach you.
We, too, were once enemies of God, but now we have new life in Him. None of us are good, righteous, or worthy of being saved. When we have an attitude like that of the religious leaders, we miss and often minimize the miracle of salvation.
Jesus and all of heaven rejoice over every lost person who repents. As His followers, we know what it was like to be lost, and we know the true joy of being found. May we continue to follow Him, especially as we seek the lost. Only Jesus can save, but we can rejoice over every sinner who is found.
