Reflecting on Luke 15:1-10“Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4)
Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders in this story.
As usual, He uses hyperbole (an exaggeration) to make His point.
To abandon the 99 to find the 1 would be dangerous and foolish.
But that is how much the shepherd values each sheep.
He would risk everything, even his own life, to save that sheep.
God does not forget about the Jews to save the Gentiles.
God does not abandon believers to save unbelievers.
But Gentiles and unbelievers are sheep (God’s children) too.
God’s love is not either/or but both/and… to save them all.
Yet loving Gentiles and unbelievers did upset the Jewish believers.
Their jealousy and pride, wanting God for themselves, would not welcome others.
Jesus’s point is: God will not stop loving the others because it upsets you.
God’s greatest joy is to love, save and bless all people, not just some.
But if the already loved, saved and blessed won’t accept that, so be it.
If the 99 won’t come along, so be it; God will still seek the one.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Your love seems reckless and foolish to us. But this is what makes God's love and grace amazing. You are seeking me and You are seeking them. Forgive us for being jealous and proud, for thinking we deserve God's gracious love more.
I am reminded of the prodigal son parable about the love of God. The son who did the Father’s bidding was like the religious leaders. He did the Father’s bidding, but love was absent. It seemed that he was the prodigal son whose heart was in the wrong place. God desires and welcomes all if they but come to Him. I need to do the same. His love is the cement that keeps us together and defines who and whose we are.