‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

What do you think of when you hear or read SOS? It is Morse Code that was created in the 1830’s. USA Today published an article on the history of SOS and how it has evolved over the years. One of the original meanings stood for “seeking you, distress.” In today’s parable, Jesus leaves the ninety-nine to search for one lost sheep. Just as we seek God to rescue us in our time of SOS, God is continually seeking to rescue us.

Sunday I encouraged you to listen to “Rescue” by Lauren Daigle. The opening lyrics sing, “You are not hidden,” “Never been a moment you were forgotten,” and “You are not hopeless.” It is a beautiful thought to think that we are never hidden from God. Are your eyes open to the ways you are sought by God? You are not forgotten! You are not hopeless! You are loved unconditionally!

Let’s pray. Dear God, I desire to be sought by You. Thank You for rescuing me with Your unconditional love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Today I encourage you to either read and meditate on the chapters below, or pull out your paper Bible to read Luke 15:1-32 or @biblegateway.

Parable of the Lost Sheep

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Parable of the Lost Coin

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV — Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Parable of the Lost Son

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬-‭32‬ ‭NIV — Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’

1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Join us on YouTube for See You Saturday as we talk about slaying our giants.

Make sure to check out our shared Lent playlist on Julie Wicker’s Spotify.

We also encourage you to worship with You’ve Already Won by Shane and Shane.

‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

In today’s verses, Jesus found the unnamed man and revealed that He was Jesus. He made two requests of this man, that he would not sin and that he would share who his healer was with the Jewish leaders. Jesus knew that this radical healing would result in this man and others believing and trusting who Jesus was. 

We have talked recently about sharing our vulnerability with others. Jesus was the ultimate example of vulnerability. He knew that this healing would lead to His crucifixion. Just like Jesus leaves the ninety-nine to search for one lost sheep, His love continually finds us. He loves us so much that He died for you and I.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for finding me and loving me. Thank you for wanting to be in a relationship with me. I desire to help others be found so they, too, can experience Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

Notice in today’s verse the Jewish leaders are questioning the invalid because he was carrying his sleeping mat after being healed on the Sabbath. Instead of the Jewish leaders celebrating this miraculous healing, they selfishly desired to find fault in Jesus. This was the last healing before Jesus died selflessly on the cross for our healing.

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let’s take this day to thank Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins so that we could be saved. Imagine the day we get to see Him face-to-face and thank Him in person. Take a moment to worship with, “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercyme.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. Give me the Godly confidence to share Your love with those who do not know You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.