June 23 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Do you like to hear a good story? Jesus told His followers many stories, using them for His teaching. They illustrated in concrete, down-to-earth terms, what He was saying. The stories Jesus told were not for leisure or relaxation. Each story calls those who hear to repentance. At the end of Luke 14:35 Jesus declared with authority, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Who was listening? Chapter 15:1 gives us the answer, “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.” It wasn’t the leaders of the people who were eager to hear the stories Jesus told. It wasn’t those who knew the Old Testament Scriptures that came to hear Jesus. The stories were heard by the outcasts, those considered the “riffraff” and “losers” in Jewish society. These people listened, repented and believed.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees didn’t think Jesus of Nazareth, or any true rabbi, should have associations with sinners. In response to the complaint of the Pharisees Jesus tells three stories.

The first is a story about a man who finds a lost sheep (15:3-7). When he finds the sheep he celebrates with his friends. The sheep is important to him. The second story is of a woman who lost a valuable coin. When she finds the coin, she calls her friends and neighbours together. She invites them to rejoice with her! She has found something that was precious to her! Jesus gives a third answer to the accusation of the Pharisees in the parable of the prodigal son. When Christ receives sinners and eats with them, it is like a father who finds a lost son and celebrates with his household. Jesus tells three stories and each ends with celebration.

Christ provides us with a pointed application in verse 10, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” God’s joy is found in the salvation of one sinner. The Lord is not waiting for ten thousand sinners to repent before He is able to celebrate. There is celebration in heaven over one sinner who repents.

Do you get the point? Are you rejoicing when a lost sinner comes to repentance?