"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 9 September 2016 with Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 9 September 2016
with Scripture: Luke 15:1-10
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Luke 15:1 The tax-collectors and sinners kept gathering around to hear Yeshua, 2 and the P’rushim and Torah-teachers kept grumbling. “This fellow,” they said, “welcomes sinners — he even eats with them!” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “If one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, doesn’t he leave the other ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 When he does find it, he joyfully hoists it onto his shoulders; 6 and when he gets home, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Come, celebrate with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who turns to God from his sins than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
8 “Another example: what woman, if she has ten drachmas and loses one of these valuable coins, won’t light a lamp, sweep the house and search all over until she finds it? 9 And when she does find it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Come, celebrate with me, because I have found the drachma I lost.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy among God’s angels when one sinner repents.”[Complete Jewish Bible]
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A kindergarten teacher once said that the first weeks for her students were spent learning the rules--how to line up, sit quietly, listen to the teacher, and prepare to focus on learning. In this season in North America many students have returned to school or are starting school for the first time. The schools are focused on safety, a positive learning environment and helping students succeed. Imagine that one of those kindergartners gets lost. As the class lines up after recess, one child is not there. It doesn't take much imagination for us to picture all the forces in the school being employed quickly as the search for the lost child gets underway. When that child is found we can picture the relief, the rejoicing and the celebration that this one who was lost is found. Jesus creates a similar word picture with the parable of the lost sheep and lost coin--concern, energy and desire all pour together in the seeking and searching for the lost one.
Oh God, we are humbled and awed that you seek the lost tirelessly. Have mercy on those who have lost their way and who have wandered off, and bring them safely home. Amen.
Peggy Paugh Leuzinger, '88

Rivers of Faith Lutheran Parish, Livingston and Wilsall, Mont. 
Luke 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3 So he told them this parable:
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?
5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.
6 And 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.'
7 Just 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.
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?
9 When 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.'
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." [New Revised Standard Version]
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