““What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
Luke 15:4-7 NKJV
Randal was just a few months old when I lost my wedding ring. We were at a Whataburger drive thru in Grand Prairie. We had to have those breakfast burritos! Randal wasn’t having it. He began to cry in the back seat – first a whimper then an all out scream. Since we were stopped, I hopped out to comfort him, and was back in the front before we reached the window.
A few minutes later, I noticed my ring was gone. It had been sitting in my lap just before I jumped out to check on Randal. Vance quickly turned around and I called the store. The manager said she would look for my ring but didn’t see it initially. Twenty minutes later – after many tears, much anxiety, and beating myself up verbally, I walked into Whataburger and saw a smiling, happy crew gathered around a taller, blonde woman while she talked excitedly about something she was holding. As I approached – I saw that the something was my ring.
She explained how she went outside twice to look for it when she finally saw it. She said she noticed a sparkle as she scanned the ground the second time – almost like the sun was shining down right on the ring. I saw it immediately. She told those of us there that it was like a miracle – and to me, it was. My most valuable, material item was lost – and then it was found.
I’m sure we can all identify with the feeling of losing something then finding it – we misplace our cellphones, important paperwork, jewelry, or money. The anxiety comes. We search and search – sometimes for hours – and when we find it, there’s a great sense of relief and joy.
The parables in this passage are all about lost items: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. And in each case, there is rejoicing over that which has been found- and people celebrate! Well – most people. The last parable is the story of the prodigal son. The father rejoices but the brother does not. There are countless sermons about that topic so I won’t make that the focus here.
For those of us who have found lost things, we know the sense of relief and joy that comes. Let this sink in for a moment – as believers in Yeshua, WE are those lost ones. WE are the ones He found. WE are the ones laying on His shoulders. WE are the ones He is rejoicing over. WE are the ones He invites the angels to celebrate. WE are the reason for His rejoicing. Can you picture it? You – me- the reason He says to the angels, Come!! Rejoice with Me!!” No, not everyone will celebrate our return – but that’s between Him and them – it’s not my burden to carry.
I pray this truth seeps deep into our hearts and minds today – the truth that He rejoices over you and over me – not just the day He found us, but even today. He loves us. It’s a truth that has the power to transform us and silence the lie that says we’ll never be enough or don’t deserve a seat at the table. We do – and there’s room for us. Pull up a seat. Welcome home. He’s rejoicing because you’re here.
Father – thank You for how You love me. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Luke 14-15
October 27, 2022