Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series. Today, from Luke 15:3-7, we reflect on how Jesus is seeking to find lost sheep.
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‘Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 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.’ (Luke 15:3-7)
Yesterday, we saw how Jesus was accused of being a ‘friend of sinners’ as the He was despised by many who said: ‘“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”’ In response, Jesus corrects their poor attitude by using three analogies and parables - The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin and The Lost Son.
The first analogy that Jesus uses is that of a lost sheep. Jesus chose this image because it would have been understood and experienced by most around Him. He serves the people with His words. He doesn’t speak in a manner to serve His ego or in ways that would have been used in the synagogue services. He uses everyday language for everyday people because He is serving their needs. Likewise, may we use words to serve those we are actually talking to.
The first lesson that this (and the other parables of this chapter teach) is that we should value rather than despise lost people. This is a rebuke to the religious leaders. They, as we saw in verses 1-2, ‘muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”’ Jesus is challenging the religious leaders that they care more for their animals - caring more for literal lost sheep than they do for lost people - choosing, rather, to condemn them and avoid them!
We are not to understand the shepherd’s behaviour as irresponsible as he leaves the ninety-nine to find the one. As his audience would have understood, this shepherd would have had others to help and with whom to leave the flock as he made his search; this detail is left out so as to keep the focus of the parable on the attitude and behaviour of the good shepherd whom we are to imitate.
Are we good shepherds? Do we love to find lost people or do we care more for our possessions - giving time to wash the car, tidy the house, update the computer, renew the phone… whilst failing to seek those that are lost?
Let’s prayer together
“Lord Jesus, I thank you that you are my Good Shepherd. You left so much in order to find me. You paid a great price to bring me home. Forgive me when I’ve not been mindful, prayerful and active in seeking to bring the lost one home. Help me to rejoice and show your heart when lost ones come home. Amen”
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, or maybe from our week of prayer, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Sunday’s message from our Luke series was about how God loves lost and found things.
In our message on Sunday from Luke 15:1-32, We see how Jesus - the ‘friend of sinners’ - gives three parables that repeat the idea that those who are far from God and those who come home to God are loved by Him and, therefore, should be loved by us.
Please read Luke Luke 15:1-32 and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything from Sunday’s message?
What do you think is the main idea of Luke 15:1-32?
All three parables (The Lost Sheep, Coin and The Lost Son) teach the same things. What do they teach about:
The spiritual condition of all people?
God’s attitude to lost things?
The poor attitudes that we can all have?
God’s attitude to ‘found’ things?
SIV - What does 15:1-32 teach about the attitudes we are to have, and actions that we are to take in regard to lost people?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
Let’s pray together: Pray for one another out of our study together and for anything else for which people would like prayer.
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