Luke 15:1-10 (NRSV)
Read Luke 15:1-10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 15Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. Verse 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." Verse 3So he told them this parable: Verse 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? Verse 5When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. Verse 6And 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.' Verse 7Just 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. Verse 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? Verse 9When 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.' Verse 10Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Devotion
Many years ago in my first parish I met a woman who lost a coin when she was a young girl growing up during the depression. Her mother had given her a penny to pay for a bus ride. The coin fell out of her hand and fell through the grate of a floor heater. In order to fish the coin out, they put a piece of chewing gum onto a stick and managed to attach the coin to the gum, fishing it up and out of the heater. It took some perseverance but that penny was valuable and was well worth the effort.
God took some effort and perseverance to win all of us back. We were like the sheep in the Scripture lesson-- lost and in need of a Savior. So God took human form and went to the cross so that we might be found and be his forever. It took perseverance. We are valuable and worth the effort to God, just like the coin was to the woman.
Prayer
Most gracious God, thank you for all you did to find us and to make us your own, Fill us with joy and gratitude each day of our lives and help us to reach out to a world in need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.