The Pharisees and scribes were grumbling about Jesus receiving tax collectors and sinners and even eating meals with them.  Jesus was reaching out to the lowest dregs of society and the upper echelon was disgruntled.  He also reached out to those who were looking down their noses at people they considered inferior to them.  How did Jesus do this?  He told a story, a parable.

The Lost Sheep
(NASB) Luke 15:4-7 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
5 ‘When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 ‘And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
7 ‘I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

 Tax collectors and sinners:
  Each of them were valuable and of great worth to God ~ so are you
  The Lord God draws individuals to hunger and desire Him ~ you can ask Him to give you hunger and a deep desire to know Him for yourself, even if you are already a follower of Christ.  (Lukewarm followers are not pleasing to God.  Revelation 3:15-16)

   When anyone is “found”, they are rejoiced over by the God of the Bible, there is joy in heaven…have you been the cause of rejoicing in heaven because you have repented of wrong things in your life?

   Followers of Christ were lost, but now they have been found…if you are not a follower of Christ…consider what you need to do to please God.  For more information how to become His follower click on the “Resources” tab and then “GPS – God’s Plan of Salvation” at the top of this devotional.

   Those who have been forgiven much; love much! Perhaps you are recognizing that you need a Savior, a Redeemer, a Shepherd…Jesus is all of these and more…He will rejoice over you when you turn to Him in prayer, in repentance, in yielding to God’s way through faith in Jesus Christ.

 Pharisees and scribes:
  Self-righteous indignation grumbles when the “wrong” people are coming to their church and sitting in their pew!

 Jesus is the good Shepherd:
  He searches for individuals who are in need of Him as their Shepherd Savior and Redeemer.  When you are “found”, there will be joy in heaven…repentance is a wondrous thing!