June 27 & 28, 2026
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Chronicles and Luke? Here’s today’s reading:
Luke 15 (NIV)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable:…..Continue Reading
The Pharisees couldn’t understand why Jesus was welcoming sinners into His presence, so He tells them three stories of lost things to make his point. When we have things with us, it is the one we lose that garners more attention and input, whether we are talking about sheep, coins or kids. It is just like these sinners who are lost and need far more ministry than those who get the truth and want God. But the best story is the prodigal son because it adds another level. Not only how it makes sense to rejoice over a lost one returned, but it also focuses on the attitude of the son who has been fateful (at least in his own eyes). If the father is excited about the son’s return, why wouldn’t the son be also? If the Father saw worth in the son beyond his behavior, why couldn’t the older son as well? See he may have followed the Father’s dictates, but he really didn’t understand the Father’s heart. And that is exactly what the Pharisees were missing….
Psalm 127; Ezekiel 47; Luke 15
Luke 15
Luke 15 I always loved reading this chapter and those Parables that Jesus shares with the Pharisees. What an example of the love God has for sinners and lost souls, even just one who comes with repentance and finds his way to the Lord, there is such joy and happiness from God in Heaven for that one lost soul. It shows the great love He has for all to find their way to Him.
Growing up spending 9 years in catholic school, Age 5-13, it was pretty clear to me that there wasn’t any rejoicing in heaven. All the priests and all the nuns representing God, dressed in black with long faces. Honestly none of them ever smiled or said anything welcoming or encouraging. So that’s who God is: Angry, Wrathful, Judgmental. Wanting nothing to do with me! Reading this chapter and so many other scriptures, it’s quite obvious there is a tremendous amount of JOY in heaven. A lost coin. A lost sheep. A lost Soul. A party in heaven when one repents. Once again the truth sets me FREE!!!!
Think of the feeling you get when you are looking for anything from your keys to that important paper that wasn’t where you thought you left it; how exciting when its back in hand and you are back on track. I can’t imagine the excitement God feels each time a heart is given over to Him in faith, another lost soul is found. We must be careful not to think like the Pharisees and feel we are any better because we are already in the fold. That means we have had God with us all along and if we are judgemental or harbor resentment for others then we are likely taking that access for granted and not operating in an eternal mindset. Every soul saved brings joy to our Father, no matter where they come from, what they have done, even what they are currently doing, God wants to see them saved, and if we are not showing them love and accepting them, we can never reach them to bring them back into the fold of God where they belong!
Jesus wants us to be reaching out to people who are bound with sin and unrighteousness. If they accept our invitation to sit at the table with us, see that the Lord is good, and repent, we are to celebrate with them! Nothing should give us more joy than witnessing a lost person finding their way into the Kindom of God. That’s how I felt seeing people being baptized yesterday. It gave me great happiness to witness them testifying about their decision to follow Jesus!
Luke 15
This is so humbling to think of God’s acceptance, His atonement for us, even when we were enemies. He seeks out the lost sinners. He and angels rejoice when one repents.
I think of the resentment of the older son over the acceptance of the profligate brother and I think of the Jews (Jewish leaders) disdain for Jesus’ making a way for sinners and even the “uncircumcised”.
Luke 15
Luke 15