devotional post # 2005

Luke 15:1-7

Luk 15:1 But all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to listen to him.
Luk 15:2 And the Pharisees and the experts in the law were whining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Luk 15:3 That was when Jesus told them this parable:
Luk 15:4 “Which man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it?
Luk 15:5 Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, jubilant.
Luk 15:6 Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, telling them, ‘Party with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’
Luk 15:7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in the sky over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.

the shepherd’s priority

The religious elite could not understand Jesus insisting on spending his quality time with the marginal crowd. Jesus explained that he was approaching ministry like a shepherd. A shepherd feels most responsible for the sheep with the most needs. The shepherd feels the most joy when he has restored the lost sheep.

The CEO spends the most time with his strong team members. The shepherd spends the most time with the needy sheep.

LORD, forgive us for approaching ministry like CEOs and not like shepherds.