Luke 15 contains 3 of the most popular and famous stories Jesus ever told. And for good reason. These stories show us the true heart of the Father.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Luke 15:1-2
Luke sets the scene. The religious leaders were still grumbling about the company Jesus kept. They still couldn’t believe that a person some considered a Rabbi would hang out with sinners. Jesus then uses this opportunity to tell them about the heart of God.
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “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? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 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
This is our Heavenly Father. The one who leaves the 99 and goes after the one. This means that as much as God loves you and rejoiced when you returned home, his heart still breaks for those who haven’t. This means on any given Sunday, when you gather at church, God welcomes you but still yearns to see those who are not there.
He cares for the person you pray for…even more than you.
Our Prayer: Father, thank you for loving me and still searching for my friend. May they come home.