Rejoicing Grace

Friday September 21st, Luke 15: 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. In telling a story with familiar elements to it, Jesus was able to get beyond the boundaries and barriers that we all throw up to protect ourselves. The listeners knew sheep, and they knew how to handle them. The message is one of grace and forgiveness. Our rules and regulations often get in the way of grace. They set up systems that must be followed. For Christ’ message of grace, we are called to rejoice at one being found, not finding, the way. Our walk as the body of Christ is one of celebration at each new infusion of Grace into this world. These are not new concepts. They are concepts we use every day, just not for one another. Every day of worship is a day of celebration of God’s Grace. Every day of life is about its discovery anew.