In Jesus alone do we receive all that we need. And when He gives us the two parables, the lost sheep and the the lost coin, we can be very grateful. With these two little parables He reveals that our being lost prompts God into action and that the fruit of our restoration is joy.
Restored and united with our Heavenly Father through Christ gives us health, healing, advice, and holiness! Joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit and we may be grateful and humbled. Us? God loves us so much. Our gratitude gives way to joy, overwhelming joy, lasting joy.
And notice too that when God finds the lost sheep He puts it on His shoulders and rejoices. God rejoices! Yes God's sheep may not yet know that it was lost and God still goes into action. And more than that, Jesus says that all of heaven rejoices when one sinner repents-- repentance which leads to salvation in Jesus.
Then Jesus gives us a next parable. Jesus says that God is like a woman who searches diligently and finds the silver coin she has lost. Finds what was Hers to begin with. Then She rejoices, both by herself when she finds the coin and with Her friends after she has shared the news of finding.
Both parables are about God's pursuit to find us, finding joy, and beginning a sustaining relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The greatest search that ever occurred in History what when God gave us Jesus so that dying on the Cross and Rising from the grave we have a sure Way to God through Christ. Christ has answers and His alive Presence within us is found solid in salvation in Him.
AlphaChurch.org is aiding God in the search. If you do not know Jesus Christ then may I introduce Him to you? God wants you to personally know our Heavenly Father's Son.
--- Rev. Walker
1. Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So He told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and 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 of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 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 in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:1-10