Luke 5:27-31; 15:1-10
Reflect
When Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep and lost coin, we read that His audience is full of tax collectors, “sinners”, Pharisees, and teachers of the law. Quite a diverse gathering. The Pharisees and teachers of the law are probably standing there with their arms crossed, scoffing at the crowd that has gathered (or at least, that’s how I imagine it), so Jesus addresses their attitude by telling a few stories. Each of these stories ends with rejoicing and a celebration, in stark contrast to the attitude of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They had made an exclusive club for themselves, while Jesus reflected a Kingdom that rejoices when someone comes home, and we’re invited to join in that celebration. Luke 5:31-32 reminds us that it’s not the healthy that need a doctor, and that Jesus came to call sinners (all of us) home.
Prayer
Father, we thank You for your heart for the lost. Help us not fall into becoming an exclusive group that is just interested in ourselves. Help us to have a heart and attitude that rejoices when someone comes home to You.
Pastor Dave
Pray
- Pray that God’s Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various Ministry Groups in our church this week as we face challenges of “being together”.
- Pray for our Young Adults & Worship Arts Pastor, Daunavan Buyer, his family and his interns, Julia Brown, Grant Mix, Hannah Nesdoly and Stephen Alksne.
- Pray for our Daycare staff, the children and their families this week. Pray for the director, Kristy Thomas.