Wednesday, January 12, 2011
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Amos 4-6 and Revelation 5-6
one…? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. …he calls together
his friends…saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents…”
Luke 15:4-7 NKJV
This parable gives us insight into God’s heart for His children. Notice that it is a sheep thatBIBLE IN A YEAR: Amos 4-6 and Revelation 5-6
SCRIPTURE READING
“What man…having a hundred sheep…does not leave the ninety-nine…and go after theone…? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. …he calls together
his friends…saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents…”
Luke 15:4-7 NKJV
has gotten lost – a born again believer, someone who is part of the flock of God. Jesus is
the shepherd and when He finds the sheep he puts the sheep on his shoulder (because it
has been stuck in the mud and is weary, dirty and weak) and Jesus marches back to the
right path. He carries that sheep on His own strength. Notice that He is rejoicing all the way
back to the sheepfold. He says “Rejoice WITH me”. This is a great day! I have found my
lost sheep – which means that the believer has come to terms with that area of compromise
and now they are ready to rage war on that area of sin, they are asking for help, and the
Lord is intervening and helping them. This is a parable about the Lord’s intervention, to
come along and help them and carry them.
This gives us confidence to run TO God instead of AWAY from God when we discover our
sin and weakness. Many people, upon discovering their sin, feel shame and run away from
God and hide from God. This is not how God wants us to respond. He wants us to allow
Him to intervene, allow Him to be our strength, allow Him to pick us up, allow Him to carry
us. We were never meant to war against sin on our own strength.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Is the idea of God intervening, carrying you, helping you a new concept to you? Howdoes it make you feel?
2. Does the idea that God rejoices when you repent something that motivated you to
confess your sin or do you struggle confessing sin because you feel guilt and shame?
3. Ask God to give you deeper understanding when it comes to His response when you
repent. Ask Him to help you run to Him instead of away from Him when you fall.
