Friday Devo
Scripture:
Luke 15:3-7
3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
Commentary:
15:3 So he told them. The following parables are directed to the Pharisees and scribes. The lost sheep (vv. 4–7), lost coin (vv. 8–10), and prodigal son (vv. 11–32) all correspond to lost sinners being found by Jesus (i.e., entering the kingdom of God).
15:4 The man leaves the ninety-nine in the open country to go after the one lost (cf. 19:10; John 10:11, 14).
15:5 lays it on his shoulders. The sheep is too weak to return on its own.
15:6 calls together his friends and his neighbors. Cf. v. 9. The Pharisees and scribes should rejoice that the lost sheep of Israel are entering the kingdom.
15:7 Joy in heaven contrasts with the grumbling of Jesus’ opponents. It apparently means that both God and all the heavenly beings, including the angels, rejoice greatly (cf. v. 10). righteous persons who need no repentance (cf. 5:31–32). In light of the emphasis in Luke-Acts on the universal need of repentance (see Luke 3:3) and the evil of humanity (11:13; cf. Rom. 3:10–20), this is best understood as ironic for “those who think they are righteous and have no need to repent.”
15:4 The man leaves the ninety-nine in the open country to go after the one lost (cf. 19:10; John 10:11, 14).
15:5 lays it on his shoulders. The sheep is too weak to return on its own.
15:6 calls together his friends and his neighbors. Cf. v. 9. The Pharisees and scribes should rejoice that the lost sheep of Israel are entering the kingdom.
15:7 Joy in heaven contrasts with the grumbling of Jesus’ opponents. It apparently means that both God and all the heavenly beings, including the angels, rejoice greatly (cf. v. 10). righteous persons who need no repentance (cf. 5:31–32). In light of the emphasis in Luke-Acts on the universal need of repentance (see Luke 3:3) and the evil of humanity (11:13; cf. Rom. 3:10–20), this is best understood as ironic for “those who think they are righteous and have no need to repent.”
Questions:
- The REBELLIOUS son must REPENT of his SELF-CENTEREDNESS. Sinners are hearing these stories Jesus is telling and having to ask themselves, "Am i the lost sheep? The lost coin? the lost son?" One of the greatest abilities we have as humans is the ability to deceive ourselves, to rationalize, to make up excuses. Some of us continue to delude ourselves, postponing that painful moment of honest self-evaluation. But we, like the younger son, must eventually wake up to the reality of our condition. The prodigal was then able to receive transformational love. Here is the point: Regardless of where you have been you can always come home. Are any of you noticing that your heart has drifted from God? Have you left his house to go your own way? Is there anyone in your life that you need to pray will come to their senses and return to their heavenly Father?
- One thing the parables of Luke 15 make very clear is that no matter how lost we are, God is pursuing us. He is pursuing YOU! He is after your heart. Even when you were FAR from him, he was coming for you. Even when it feels like God is a million miles away and your prayers are hitting the ceiling, God is closer than your skin and his arms are open wide. As we close this week, spend some time in prayer thanking God for his unfathomable love for you, even when you're not very lovable.
Pray:
- That you would repent of self-centeredness.
- That you would remember how much God loves you and wants to be with you.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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