Daily Devotion: Rejoicing
This morning I read in Luke 15. If you are unfamiliar with this chapter of the bible, it is such a wonderful chapter to read. It is a chapter filled with love, rejoicing, and it reminds us to refocus on what’s important. Let’s get started with a prayer.
Dear Lord, thank you for bringing us hear today. Thank you for your word that we get to study today. I pray that each person who reads this will be strengthened and encouraged by you. Thank you for your guidance through your words.
Our passage today: Luke 15
Luke 15 starts out by telling us who Jesus’s audience was the day he spoke these things. “All the tax collectors and sinners we approaching to listen to him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, ‘This main welcomes sinners and eats with them'. “
When you read through all the gospels (the books of the bible telling about Jesus’s life), you see these groups of people (Pharisees and Scribes) mentioned a lot. They were Jews who, many times, were very self righteous, believing that they had all of God’s word figured out and followed everything he asked to a T. Keep this in mind as we keep working through the chapter.
Jesus tells 3 parables in this chapter. (What’s a parable? Check out my post here)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
The Parable of the Lost Coin
The Parable of the Lost Son
Let’s start by reading the first 2 parables
'So he told them this parable: “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep! ’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.
“Or what woman who has ten silver coins, , if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost! ’ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”'
Luke 15:3-10 https://www.bible.com/bible/1713/LUK.15.3-10
Observation questions:
How did these stories relate back to Jesus’s audience? Why would these topics make sense to them?
Do you think his listeners understood what he was saying in these parables? Why or why not?
Jesus appeals to different kinds of people with these stories. Not every person in the crowd would have been a farmer. Not every person in the crowd would have been a businessman or cared too much about money. We will see in the next story, that Jesus appeals to all of them with a story about family. And he goes a bit deeper. Let’s read.
'He also said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything.
When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.” ’ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! ’ So they began to celebrate.
“Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ “ ‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”'
Luke 15:11-32 https://www.bible.com/bible/1713/LUK.15.11-32
Observation questions:
Where did the sons go? What did each of them do there?
What did the younger son do when he came to his senses?
How did the father respond? How did the old brother respond? How are these two responses different?
I love seeing the Father’s response to his son’s homecoming. And Jesus’s point in these stories is to show how heaven rejoices at the return of any sinner. Jesus relates this story back to part of his audience by including the part about the older brother. This older brother is the one who stayed with his father when he received his inheritance. This represents the pharisees and scribes, those who are working for God, but their hearts have become hardened to those they perceive as sinners. The father prompts them to see the good in what has happened. He urges the brother to not be so selfish.
THANK THE LORD for his response (the father’s) to both brothers in this story!
Application questions:
What is the meaning of each of these parables? How do they relate back to God’s kingdom principles?
What stands out to you about these parables?
Which character in the stories do you relate to? What do you think God is urging you to do based on that character?
Thank you Lord for my reader today. I pray that we will both go out and tell about what we’ve learned in your word today. Please forgive us of our sins against you Lord. Soften our hearts and help us to see the lost in the world and welcome them with rejoicing when they enter your kingdom with us. In your name, Amen.
If you are unfamiliar with the bible study method I used today, take a moment to read over 6 Steps to Help You Study Your Bible. This method always helps me renew my joy in reading God’s word.
