Tag: lost coin

Categories
Luke Devotionals

Valuing what God values

Shepherd

I have read Jesus’ three parables in Luke 15 hundreds of times, but today a thought I’d never had before popped into my head.

We know how the elder son responded to the father’s joy at regaining his son.

But how did the neighbors respond? Were they equally happy? I suppose if they knew the son well and liked him, their joy, if not quite matching the father’s, would still be great.

But what about the shepherd’s neighbors? Or the woman’s neighbors? I find it hard to believe they would really care that much.

Out of politeness, they might say, “Oh, that’s great.” Or “Oh, I’m happy for you.”

But do you really think they would give it a second thought? Not likely.

Why not?

Probably because they wouldn’t attach the same value to the lost sheep or coin that the shepherd or woman did.

The elder son certainly didn’t attach the same value to his brother that their father did.

In the same way, the Pharisees did not attach the same value to the “sinners” and tax collectors that Jesus did. They saw them as worthless, irredeemable.

But Jesus placed the highest value on them. That’s why he actively sought them out. And that’s why he all heaven rejoices when one repents.

The question is, “Do we value people as Jesus does?”

We’re living in a world where we are increasingly devaluing others. And we show it in our actions, words, and attitudes toward them.

I know I’m guilty of that at times.

But Jesus valued them enough to die for them.

Can we value them any less?

Categories
Luke Devotionals

Not insignificant

Luke

I’ve read these stories a million times, but one thought came to me as I read it this time.

No person is insignificant in God’s sight.

The lost sheep was not insignificant to the shepherd though he had 99 others.

The lost coin was not insignificant to the woman though she had nine others.

The younger son was not insignificant to the father though he had a more “faithful” son, and his younger son had essentially said, “I wish you were dead.”

In the same way, we are not insignificant to God.

He may have many other children in his family. Those children may be more gifted, faithful, and obedient than we are.

But God did not leave us to perish. Instead, while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. (Romans 5:8)

And when we repent and come to him, he welcomes us and rejoices over us with all the angels in heaven.

No, we are not insignificant in God’s sight. We are highly precious to him.

So let us ponder that truth. Let us rejoice in that truth.

But more, let us also show the love and compassion God has shown us to others.

Because they not insignificant to him either.

Categories
Luke Luke 15

Parables of the lost sheep and coin: Seeking the lost? Condemning the lost?

Luke

In this passage, we see the one big difference between Jesus and the Pharisees. And it is unfortunately one of the big differences between God and a lot of people that call themselves Christians today.

The Pharisees condemned those who were lost. Jesus sought to save them.

Jesus had just spent some time with the Pharisees, and now he went back to the people he usually hung out with, the “sinners.”

And because of that, the Pharisees condemned Jesus saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2).

The Pharisees were a people that did everything they could to keep from being “contaminated” by sinners.

They would never entertain a “sinner” at their home, and they would never dream of even visiting a “sinner’s” house.

To the extent it was possible, they would avoid having any business dealings with them, and it was their ideal to avoid them entirely.

No wonder then that they were shocked at how openly Jesus welcomed the sinner.

And so Jesus told them three parables, two of which we’ll look at today.

One was of a lost sheep, and how it was so valuable that the shepherd went out to seek it. And when he found it, Jesus said,

He calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ (Luke 15:6)

Jesus then told the Pharisees,

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 15:7)

Imagine for a moment if the Pharisee had been the shepherd. What would he have done? He would have condemned the sheep.

“How stupid could that sheep be straying off like that. Well let him get what he deserves. He deserves to die.”

But Jesus never thought that way. Rather, he sought to save the sheep, even to the point of giving his life for them.

This way of thinking was totally foreign to the Pharisees. But it shouldn’t have been.

Had they read the prophets, they would have seen that is exactly the way God is. It was, in fact, the whole point of the book of Hosea.

Jesus then told a story about a woman who had lost a coin. Most likely, this was part of a head-dress worn by married women.

It was made up of 10 silver coins and was somewhat like our wedding ring today. If you can imagine a woman losing her wedding ring, that’s the kind of feeling this woman had.

And so she searched every corner of the house until she found it.

In the same way, God searches throughout every corner of creation for those who are lost in their sin. And Jesus said when God finds them, “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God.” (Luke 15:10).

That’s God’s attitude. But how about you? When you see the “sinner,” do you simply condemn them? Or do you go out of your way to try to save them?

Let us not be like the Pharisees that condemned, but like our Savior who saved us.