March 30, 2019
Luke 15:1-7 Good News Translation (GNT)
Today is the twenty-second day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.” Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. Today, we are reflecting upon Jesus our Good Shepherd and his heart for increasing the Kingdom. The Lord is always tending to us and leading us into righteous living and spiritual vitality; he is our personal Savior and we love him. As we respond to his love we spiritually grow and develop. He is always with us, so when the enemy of our souls attacks, the Good Shepherd gently gathers us into his arms, restores, and heals us. We have all that we need as we follow our Shepherd (Ps 23:1). Every believer has a story of how God has been the Good Shepherd who has loved us when we needed it most; provided for us when the world would have left us behind. If we are honest, we will admit our lives would be in shambles apart from Christ; he holds our lives together in his love. We know every heart needs the Good Shepherd, but how concerned are we for those who are still lost and don’t know him? If we are truly concerned, our lives will reflect Christ’s passion for outreach. Honestly, are we praying and asking the Shepherd for opportunities to help him in his quest for the lost?
The Lord cares about every human being. He cares about those who know him and those who have yet to meet him. Our passage today reminds us that Christ is no respecter of persons, what he does for one he will do for all. He rescues us from evil and surrounds us with grace; he calls us by name and treats us with dignity. Others need to experience the Shepherd.
During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart. P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield. May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.
Luke 15:1-7 The Lost Sheep
15 One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, 2 the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling, “This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them!” 3 So Jesus told them this parable:
4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them—what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one that got lost until you find it. 5 When you find it, you are so happy that you put it on your shoulders 6 and carry it back home. Then you call your friends and neighbors together and say to them, ‘I am so happy I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate!’ 7 In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent.
Prayer: Lord, I praise you for being my Good Shepherd; all my days I will enjoy your goodness and mercy. I repent from any form of grumbling. I ask you to guide me in your mission to gather the lost. However you choose to use me I will yield. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of connecting to your mission. In Jesus’ name. Amen.