Devo Thought: Luke 15:1-10

Introduction

Welcome to your second Homegroup everyone! Thank you for taking the time in the midst of your eating, fun, or whatever it is that you’re doing right now to watch this short, what I like to call, devotional thought.

Today we’re going to be reading from Luke 15:1-10, there’s no need to open up to it on your phones: Just listen carefully!

Luke 15:1–10 ESV

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 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. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And 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.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Thought

Did you notice that both of these parables begin with a note on something being lost? In the first parable the shepherd loses one of his flock, and in the second a women loses a single coin. There’s an interesting contrast to these two people. The shepherd was assumedly pretty financially well off- since he had a whole flock. That means the sheep wouldn’t have been a big loss at all… on the other hand, the loss of the coin was very serious to the women, because she was apparently poor. The coin here is what was called a drachma, which was about one day’s wages for a laborer- like a blue collar worker. It wasn’t a huge amount… but it was a great loss for the women!

Both parables have a loss, and both also immediately began their search for the thing that was lost. The shepherd searched because he cared for his sheep, and she searched because the coin was of great value to her.

For the Shepherd, the search is relentless! The shepherd cannot allow himself to rest— his lost sheep must be found! Here’s a fun fact about sheep… they’re really dumb. They are pitifully helpless animals without the guidance of a shepherd. Neither will the women allow herself to rest! In ancient Israel homes were traditionally windowless and dark. Since the only light came in through a low door, a lamp was always shining. Straw would have covered the floor, and the women would have swept it all away, searching in every corner and crevice for the coin that she had lost. Nothing was left unturned, she must find this coin!

Whats the point of these parables? Jesus was saying that the shepherd and the woman together reveal His heart as he searches for the lost. He is a shepherd who has compassion for the helpless lost sheep, and He is also like the woman, and has placed immense value on that which has been lost- us!

So why does this matter? Both parables end with the sheep or the coin being found, and it says that the shepherd and the woman rejoiced greatly. But not only that, Luke 15:10 says,

Luke 15:10 ESV

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Christ is searching for you who may be lost. And when He finds you, not only will He- the God of the universe and creator of all things rejoice, but so also will all of Heaven. Christ is searching for you! If you feel lost, further from God by each passing day then simply ask for the Lord to find you. He will. Because He is a good shepherd and has placed immense value on your lost soul.

Lets pray,

Lord I pray specifically for a student who is in need of being found this evening. Would you find them. Even right now would they feel for the first time or for the first time in a long time that you are with them.

Amen, enjoy the rest of Homegroups!