The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for WEDNESDAY, 27 May 2015 - "Joy in heaven over successful searches"
Daily Scripture: 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.”
Reflection Questions:
Pharisees were unhappy that Jesus welcomed “sinners.” Jesus, not intimidated, told them God throws a party for every lost “sheep” or “coin” found. When he spoke of “ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to change their hearts and lives,” we can be quite sure he was using irony to describe his critics’ attitude. He knew Pharisees needed finding, too—but, sadly, they didn’t know it.
- Pastor Bruce Larson wrote, “A shepherd explained to me that sheep nibble their way into lostness. They move from one tuft of green grass to the next, sometimes right through a hole in the fence. When they’re done nibbling they can’t find the hole—they’re lost. Some of us know what that is—to nibble ourselves bit by bit into the far country.” When have you been like the lost sheep, not sure how to find your way home? What “shepherd(s)” has God used to find you and bring you home?
- Think of a time when you joined in celebrating really good news for a family member or friend. What was the cause? What was the celebration like? Have you ever been part of celebrating that someone you care about has “changed both heart and life”? Remember that God celebrates, really celebrates, each time you take a step out of darkness into light.
Today's Prayer:
O Jesus, thank you for seeking and finding me, for being “thrilled” and placing me on your shoulders! Come into me each day to touch other lives you are still seeking. Amen.
Rev. Steven Blair is the Congregational Care Pastor of Live Forward and Live Well Emotional Wellness Ministry. www.cor.org/liveforward
Jesus is criticized for eating with sinners, non-religious and nominally religious. Jesus eats with some who are wealthy, like tax collectors. Jesus eats with some who are poor and who have to resort to prostitution to pay the bills. Jesus’ response to their disapproval? There is a shepherd who finds a lost sheep. A woman finds her lost coin.
God and everyone in heaven applaud what the religious folks criticize. Going even farther, God is better off with the lost sheep and the lost coin. God is happier to have what was lost in the fold and in the pocket. You can hear the announcement “Found!” This exclamation gives joy to both shepherd and sheep.
We can choose to applaud what God is doing or we can work against it. We can act in ways that bring God joy by reaching out to sinners, non-religious, and nominally religious or we can have a life that heaven doesn’t applaud.
May the word “Found” give you both excitement and purpose!
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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