lost...

Luke 15:4-9

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not 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.'…

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not 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.' "

The actions of God in His care and His love for the believer are not dependent on what we do. The parable of the lost son is not to be manipulated into a story of a son who is repentant and thus earns favour with his father. The three ‘JJ Abram’ (everything’s Lost? Get it? Probably not…) parables present to us an overwhelming body of evidence of a God that loves and restores at any time.

What does the sheep do to deserve the shepherd coming out to rescue him and bring him back to the fold? What does a lost coin do to deserve being searched for at great effort?

I think of the times that I’ve forced myself to repent. Or times I’ve tried to force others to repent. But if repentance is forced, how true a repentance could it be? Romans 2:2 reminds us it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance, not our self-realisation.

Even though God has so many following Him, He still notices YOU.

Even though God has every treasure, He still values YOU.

Prayer for the week: Father, how great is the love you have poured out that you now call us children. You are a perfect father whose perfect love drives me to trust and rely on you alone. I can look forward to the best because you gave your best.