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Friday, July 26, 2024 5:46:38 AM
The Parables of the Lost Sheep and Coin
~ In today’s devotional, the last in our series on the parables, we’ll be looking at the parables of the lost sheep and coin.
If the core of Jesus’ teachings on the gospel could be summed up in two stories, they would be the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. Both stories illustrate one crucially important truth: God pursues us. Both clearly display God’s heart for us in that He willingly and passionately comes down to meet and help us wherever we are. As we look at these important parables today, open your heart and allow the reality of God’s pursuit of you to “transform” the way you relate to Him and stir up your desires to seek His face in return.
Jesus says in Luke 15:4-7...
“What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.”
Then Jesus teaches in verses 8-10...
“Or what woman who has 10 silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Jesus tells two parables to re-emphasize a perspective-shattering truth. The One, True God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, so values us that He leaves everything behind to pursue relationship with us. So great is God’s desire for restored relationship with you that He came down off his throne, left transcendent perfection, and lived His earthly life in total service to us, thereby leading Him to an unjustified and sacrificial death.
• Has the reality of that truth been fully realized in your heart?
• Has both the grandeur and love of our God hit home to the point that the depth of God’s love is your chief reality?
Too often we pass by the core message of the gospel because we have heard it before, and we don’t allow it to stretch past our mind into our heart. It’s when truth rests in our heart, impacts our emotions, and becomes real to us that it transforms our life. You were the helpless and lost sheep. You were the coin that was so valuable God worked and searched until He had it back in His possession. You are of the highest value to the only One who truly decides the essence of worth. Don’t let that truth pass you by today. Instead, grab hold of it, reflect on it, and wrestle with it until it becomes the foundation for every decision, thought, and action in your life.
Let’s respond to the depth of God’s pursuit with our own. Let’s allow God to bring every part of our lives entirely into His possession. Let’s be the reward of Jesus’ sacrifice. In Psalm 27:8 David says, “You have said, ‘Seek My face.’ My heart says to You, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.'” God is calling out to you, saying, “Seek My face.” He waits patiently for your reply, excited at the notion that you would live your life receiving the abundance made available to you by Jesus’ sacrifice.
Spend time in prayer meditating on God’s pursuit of you and responding to Him by daily seeking His face.
The chief characteristic that marks those who live life in the Spirit is their continual pursuit of God. Psalm 34:10 promises us that “those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” God will always respond to your pursuit of Him because His greatest desire is relationship with you. You don’t have to be scared to seek Him, wondering if you will find Him to be real and responsive. He’s already promised that to you. Take Hebrews 11:6 and live your life in obedience to His Word. Have faith and believe that He “exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” May you discover a deeper reality of His nearness, love, and pursuit of you today as your respond to God’s Word in faith.
_________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/
•
~ In today’s devotional, the last in our series on the parables, we’ll be looking at the parables of the lost sheep and coin.
If the core of Jesus’ teachings on the gospel could be summed up in two stories, they would be the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. Both stories illustrate one crucially important truth: God pursues us. Both clearly display God’s heart for us in that He willingly and passionately comes down to meet and help us wherever we are. As we look at these important parables today, open your heart and allow the reality of God’s pursuit of you to “transform” the way you relate to Him and stir up your desires to seek His face in return.
Jesus says in Luke 15:4-7...
“What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.”
Then Jesus teaches in verses 8-10...
“Or what woman who has 10 silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Jesus tells two parables to re-emphasize a perspective-shattering truth. The One, True God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, so values us that He leaves everything behind to pursue relationship with us. So great is God’s desire for restored relationship with you that He came down off his throne, left transcendent perfection, and lived His earthly life in total service to us, thereby leading Him to an unjustified and sacrificial death.
• Has the reality of that truth been fully realized in your heart?
• Has both the grandeur and love of our God hit home to the point that the depth of God’s love is your chief reality?
Too often we pass by the core message of the gospel because we have heard it before, and we don’t allow it to stretch past our mind into our heart. It’s when truth rests in our heart, impacts our emotions, and becomes real to us that it transforms our life. You were the helpless and lost sheep. You were the coin that was so valuable God worked and searched until He had it back in His possession. You are of the highest value to the only One who truly decides the essence of worth. Don’t let that truth pass you by today. Instead, grab hold of it, reflect on it, and wrestle with it until it becomes the foundation for every decision, thought, and action in your life.
Let’s respond to the depth of God’s pursuit with our own. Let’s allow God to bring every part of our lives entirely into His possession. Let’s be the reward of Jesus’ sacrifice. In Psalm 27:8 David says, “You have said, ‘Seek My face.’ My heart says to You, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.'” God is calling out to you, saying, “Seek My face.” He waits patiently for your reply, excited at the notion that you would live your life receiving the abundance made available to you by Jesus’ sacrifice.
Spend time in prayer meditating on God’s pursuit of you and responding to Him by daily seeking His face.
The chief characteristic that marks those who live life in the Spirit is their continual pursuit of God. Psalm 34:10 promises us that “those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” God will always respond to your pursuit of Him because His greatest desire is relationship with you. You don’t have to be scared to seek Him, wondering if you will find Him to be real and responsive. He’s already promised that to you. Take Hebrews 11:6 and live your life in obedience to His Word. Have faith and believe that He “exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” May you discover a deeper reality of His nearness, love, and pursuit of you today as your respond to God’s Word in faith.
_________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/
•
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