Special thanks to Jill Hamming from PEI who is writing the devotionals on the readings from Luke (with help from L.E.Porter’s commentary on Luke).
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION
- I wonder what it looks like when the angels rejoice? Explosions of colour like the most amazing fire works? Dancing – is it Celtic, graceful ballroom or ribbons in motion around maypoles? Do the angels sing all together like fans at British soccer games, cheering for their team? Perhaps they gather at a spectacular waterfall and dive or swoop, in and out having a splendid pool party!
- The Scribes and Pharisees are complaining again. Once more they have missed the point. They think Jesus is lowering Himself, spending time befriending ‘undesirable’ people. Jesus teaches again that He has come to seek the ‘Lost’.
- In these parables something has been lost. The shepherd and the women each search diligently until it is found. They rejoice. They call their friends to rejoice too. The emphasis here is on the rejoicing! Neither a sheep nor a coin can repent. We celebrate the fact that they are found. As we also celebrate that God finds us, draws us to Himself.
- How do you celebrate when becomes a Jesus follower? I remember rejoicing when my nephew made his choice for Jesus. We gladly attended his river baptism, we sang and had a party! Often in my church circles these are very low-key events that most of us don’t hear about. (until much later when they are formally joining the church) I think in the future I want to celebrate these events more. Why am I pushing evangelism and the importance of following Jesus if I don’t rejoice when people do?
PRAYER:
Oh Lord, I am sorry that I have not always realised the significance of the event of someone choosing to follow You. Please forgive me. Please Holy Spirit make me, make all of us, more aware of the importance of it. Change our hearts. Amen.