The Road Devotional | Lent 2024

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “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? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  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.

The lead up to these verses includes Jesus being accused of hanging out with the “wrong type of people” by the religious leaders. Jesus spent a great deal of time “hanging” out with those that were looked down upon. This makes this story a beautiful illustration that Jesus uses to explain to exactly what the relationship is between God and God’s people: the Shepherd who is always seeking to take us home, and the sheep who are always at risk for being lost. In it we learn the kind of boundless love and joy that God feels for all people, especially those who are lost or disconnected from everyone else.

Q. How does this image of God as shepherd always searching for God’s sheep change how you think about God? How does it make you feel?

What did the sheep do to be so sought after by the shepherd? Nothing more than being lost. There are times in our lives where we will feel special, as if there is something about us that God needs. At other times, we will feel worthless, as if there is nothing special about us that God could use. The truth is, God loves us just because. There doesn’t need to be a reason, and there is nothing we can do to change that. In fact we believe God chose us before we ever knew God: God chose us just because we are who we are!

Q. Where do you need to hear the words of God’s grace speak into your life? Past? Future?

God, thank you for your unending love and the joy you feel when a lost soul is found. Open our hearts to embrace those who may feel lost or marginalized. Help us to reflect your love.

Amen.