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15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “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? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ 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. (Luke 15:1,7)

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Jesus is eating with tax collectors and sinners and the Pharisees and teachers of the law don’t like it.

1. God’s heart includes those outside the fold.

Remember Jesus is eating with tax collectors and sinners. They are Lost Sheep. Jesus is trying to let these Pharisees and teachers of the law know how much he cares for those outside the fold. Jesus is telling them it’s not the sheep that are in the fold that I need to find…it’s the ones who are not. That’s why he came to seek and save those who are lost.

2. God rejoices over repentance.

The one thing God and all of heaven rejoices over more than anything else is one person who repents. God celebrates when a lost soul is found. This shoots an arrow right to the heart of why Jesus came and how wonderful our salvation is.

The joy set before him was all the lost sheep (that’s you and I) who would repent and be reunited with him and the Father. 

God has an absolutely awesome love for you and for all of mankind. If there is another wonderful lesson in the parable of the lost sheep, it’s this:

Let’s not give up on anyone who may have wandered from the faith or who is not currently in the fold. Let’s pray, search and love them. It’s what Jesus does and it’s the heart of the Father. Let’s see if we can find some lost sheep and set off a great celebration in heaven.

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