Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So, he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 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 that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15: 1-7
He Never Gives Up. He Never Gives In.
Jesus came so that we would have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). When Jesus speaks of the Shepherd leaving the flock to reach the one, it is so the one, may be found. To be found, is to not longer be lost. To no longer be lost, is to longer be bound to the pains and practices of sin. When Jesus meets us, He breaks us. He places us around His shoulders and carries us ever so close to Him. During this time of being carried, we sync up with the heartbeat of Heaven. His desires become our desires.
We are so blessed that God never gives up on us. Jesus leaves the masses for the one everyone passes. What a wonderful message! It is important to remember that Jesus didn’t leave the 99 to merely find the 1. He left so that one may no longer be lost, and that they would never leave again. It is equally important to remember that God never gives in to our circumstances or sin.
When we come to Christ, we are given abundant life. Abundant life means free from sin, and alive in Christ! Jesus makes this possible! I hear people say “I’m keeping it real” all the time. They are saying this when they are talking about sin, that is unrepentant, and attempting to justify their outward manifestation of their inward infestation of darkness that has not yielded to Jesus as Lord. The Lord loves a heart that is real before Him, but He despises a heart that is rebellious before Him.
I want to encourage you today. Jesus left Heaven, so that you would no longer be lost in sin, but found redeemed alive in Christ, and therefore repentive in following Him. Heaven rejoices over a sinner choosing life and repenting of sin. This is abundant life. To continue to claim Jesus, yet still live in sin, is an abundant lie. Choose life. Choose Jesus. He has already chosen you, He loves you. Simply follow.
Nate Staton 