Hunkered Down Devotion

Luke 15:3-10 (Voice)
Jesus (with another parable): 3-4 Wouldn’t every single one of you, if you have 100 sheep and lose one, leave the 99 in their grazing lands and go out searching for the lost sheep until you find it? 5 When you find the lost sheep, wouldn’t you hoist it up on your shoulders, feeling wonderful? 6 And when you go home, wouldn’t you call together your friends and neighbors? Wouldn’t you say, “Come over and celebrate with me, because I’ve found my lost sheep”? 7 This is how it is in heaven. They’re happier over one sinner who changes his way of life than they are over 99 good and just people who don’t need to change their ways of life.
8 Or imagine a woman who has 10 silver coins. She loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the whole house, and search diligently until that coin is found? 9 And when she finds it, doesn’t she invite her friends and neighbors and say, “Celebrate with me! I’ve found that silver coin that I lost”? 10 Can’t you understand? There is joy in the presence of all God’s messengers over even one sinner who changes his way of life.

So, let’s get the obvious thing out of the way first.  The things Jesus states as given facts here – that everyone would leave the 99 and that all would celebrate about one found coin – are not, no matter what Jesus says, universally accepted facts.  Most of those listening to Jesus tell these parables would not have been nodding along in agreement.  Of course, Jesus knew that, it was kind of the point.  

The point that Jesus is making in highlighting the foolishness of leaving the 99 to find the one; or throwing a party, which would cost significantly more than one silver coin, to celebrate the finding of said coin is that this kind of love is foolish.  This kind of love, the kind of love that God has for us, the kind of love that Jesus came to earth to demonstrate, the kind of love the Jesus calls us to show for each other and live out for the world, just doesn’t make sense.  It is foolish. The world can’t and won’t understand it, and we are called to it anyway.  

But make no mistake.  This is the kind of love that God has for you.  God’s love for you is a drop everything, no matter what kind of love.  God calls us to share that kind of love for each other in response receiving it from him.  When we do that, that is how we share and expand the kingdom of God in this world.  

Sharing God’s Love,
Chip  

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for leaving the 99 to find me.  Help me to show that same love for others. Amen.