Today’s reading is Luke 15 where Jesus tells 3 parables about loving the undeserving and the lost. He tells these stories after hearing the Pharisees and scribes grumble about spending time with “sinners.” These 3 stories are probably familiar to most of us: the parable of the lost sheep leaving the 99 for 1, the parable of the lost coin where the woman searches her house for 1 even though she has 9 others, and finally the story of the prodigal son coming home and asking for forgiveness after leaving to live a reckless life.
Jesus specifically ends the story of the lost sheep by saying in Luke 7:15, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Does this mean God loves those who lead a reckless life more than those who try to lead a Godly life? No. And we are all sinners in need of a Savior in Jesus. He’s just underscoring that God is different than us and our human nature. Think about the people who are your good friends and who you love. Most of them are probably people who are “lovable.” They have similar interests to you, they care about you and what’s going on in your life, and they probably love you back. Again, Jesus is helping those who think they are way past the point of anyone ever being able to love them or forgive them know God will forgive them if they repent, and different than the rest of the world, He still loves them unconditionally before they even come back to Him.
I love the part in the prodigal son parable in Luke 15:20 where it says, “…But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion and embraced him and kissed him.” His father was looking for him just waiting for him to come back. Our Father in Heaven is looking and waiting for us to come back. And the other fascinating thing about this verse, the father feels compassion, embraces his son, and kisses him BEFORE the son says he’s sorry and asks for forgiveness.
Are you reading this and feel your life is too far gone to go back to God or feel there is something you’ve done that can’t be forgiven? I pray that in reading this you’ll realize you’re never too far gone for God.
And for all of us Christ followers, we are called to be more like Jesus (Ephesians 5:1-2). Who can you love this week that is unlovable? Yes, it could be someone you meet that has fallen on hard times or made some bad decisions. But don’t overlook that it also might be someone that is really close to you..a spouse, parent, son or daughter, aunt or uncle, cousin, or friend who’s hurt you or made bad decisions. Pray on it. Ask God to reveal to you who you are supposed to love this week that can ultimately draw that person closer to Him.
