Bible Verse of the Day Thursday September 16th 2021

 Luke 15:7 there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 

In this chapter of Luke 15:1-10, Jesus used two (2) parables to explain why He had surrounded Himself with sinners, this one and the parable of the woman that had lost one silver coin out of ten. They are all linked together with the idea of something lost and then found. The so-called religious community of Jews that surrounded Jesus when He was on His earthly ministry was made very uncomfortable because Jesus was surrounding Himself with what they viewed as sinners. Consequently, Jesus told a parable of a Shepard that has lost one of his sheep and left his entire flock to go search for this one lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7). 

The lost sheep, as well as both of the lost objects in the two parables, are relevant and germane to the work of the redemption of humankind. The lost in both of these parables are representative of the sinner that has departed from God, and in danger of an eternal death instead of eternal life. Since we know from God’s Holy Word that once a person is saved by the blood of Christ Jesus, they can never lose that salvation (John 10:27-29), the lost in these two (2) Parables are pointing to those that have not yet accepted Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior. God wants all people to come to a knowledge of the truth, and the truth is Jesus is the only way to salvation (1 Timothy 2:3-4). 

Each object in the three parables is a small amount compared to the rest, one sheep as compared to one hundred sheep and one silver coin as compared to ten silver coins. This tells us that all people are under the umbrella of God’s Love (John 3:16). Every person is important and special in God’s eyes and His heart’s desire is that all might come to Him, through Christ Jesus. 

The leading of the lost sheep throughout the world to Christ Jesus here in this life, is our job, as saved born again believers. Jesus left us with that charge when He ascended back to heaven (Acts 1:8). Let us not become so engrossed and captivated with our religious rules that we miss the ones that God leads our way, so that we can tell them about the saving grace of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, and what he did for us on the Cross of Calvary. 

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