Luke 15:1-7 (NIV) Parable of the Lost Sheep
Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “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? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 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.
Two points of mphasis I would like to make:
1) How strange that Jesus is accused of welcoming and eating with sinners! I mean this is what its suppose to be about. Jesus will go on a tell the story of the lost sheep showing us that this is really what living as a Christian, in the body, is suppose to be about. It seems like we build our buildings for the very reason to keep sinners out. We can make statements similar to this in judgment of our fellow Christians who associate with sinners and eat with them. How else can we share the life changing story of Jesus with them if we don't associat with them and make them the target of our efforts. But most of our efforts are on ourselves.
2) The statement in v.7 says there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the 99 righteous who are safe in the pen. This is another statement that amazes me. Jesus concern is over the one lost than over the 99 who are safe. I think we in the church today have a tendancy to worry and fuss over the 99 who are safe than over the one who need to know Jesus. We seem to rejoice more over the 99 safe than the one who repents. Our efforts need to be for the sinner, to bring them Christ, but in fact most of our efforts are for the 99. How sad!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Teacher's Woes
Ever have one of those days?
Did you hear about the teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten students put his snow boots on? He asked for help and she could see why. With her pulling and him pushing, the boots still didn't want to go on. When the second boot was on, she had worked up a sweat.
She almost whimpered when the little boy said, "Teacher, they're on the wrong feet."
She looked and sure enough, they were. It wasn't any easier pulling the boats off than it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the snow boots back on--this time on the right feet.
He then announced, "These aren't my boots."
She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream. "Why didn't you say so?" like she wanted to. Once again she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting snow boots off.
He then said, "They're my bother's boots. My mom made me wear them."
She didn't know if she should laugh or cry. She mustered up the grace to wrestle the boots on his feet again. She said, "Now, where are you mittens?"
He said, "I stuffed them in the toes of my boots..."
Did you hear about the teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten students put his snow boots on? He asked for help and she could see why. With her pulling and him pushing, the boots still didn't want to go on. When the second boot was on, she had worked up a sweat.
She almost whimpered when the little boy said, "Teacher, they're on the wrong feet."
She looked and sure enough, they were. It wasn't any easier pulling the boats off than it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the snow boots back on--this time on the right feet.
He then announced, "These aren't my boots."
She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream. "Why didn't you say so?" like she wanted to. Once again she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting snow boots off.
He then said, "They're my bother's boots. My mom made me wear them."
She didn't know if she should laugh or cry. She mustered up the grace to wrestle the boots on his feet again. She said, "Now, where are you mittens?"
He said, "I stuffed them in the toes of my boots..."
Monday, June 8, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Calling of the Kingdom
We, in our culture, seemed to be possessed with material possessions and the attainment of such possesions. I know it is something I still struggle with. It seems like everything around us is just screaming buy this, you gotta have that, life will be better for you if you have this... When does it ever end. How can I keep the sound for more more more out of my head!!!! Perhaps the key is in setting my heart in something else. Instead of being concerned about wealth and material possessions whey not rather be concerning with the things of the kingdom. How can we let ourselves hear the calling of the kingdom rather than things? Read this passage from Luke 12:22-34 out of the God's Word Translation:
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat or wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. Consider the crows. They don't plant or harvest. They don't even have a storeroom or barn. Yet, God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds. Can any of you add an hour to your life by worrying? If you can't do a small thing like that, why worry about other things? Consider how the flowers grow. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. but I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. That's the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it's alive, and tomorrow it's thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?
Don't concern yourself about what you will eat or drink, and quit worrying about these things. Everyone in the world is concerned about these things, but your Father knows you need them. Rather, be concerned about his kingdom. Then these things will be provided for you. Don't be afraid, little flock. Your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your material possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don't wear out! Make a treasure for yourselves in heaven that never loses its value! In heaven thieves and moths can't get close enough to destroy your treasure. Your heart will be where your treasue is." (God's Word)
Hear the calling of the kingdom! I wonder if we could ever fully put this message into practice in our American culture of possessing things mindset. Hmmmm.
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat or wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. Consider the crows. They don't plant or harvest. They don't even have a storeroom or barn. Yet, God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds. Can any of you add an hour to your life by worrying? If you can't do a small thing like that, why worry about other things? Consider how the flowers grow. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. but I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. That's the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it's alive, and tomorrow it's thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?
Don't concern yourself about what you will eat or drink, and quit worrying about these things. Everyone in the world is concerned about these things, but your Father knows you need them. Rather, be concerned about his kingdom. Then these things will be provided for you. Don't be afraid, little flock. Your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your material possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don't wear out! Make a treasure for yourselves in heaven that never loses its value! In heaven thieves and moths can't get close enough to destroy your treasure. Your heart will be where your treasue is." (God's Word)
Hear the calling of the kingdom! I wonder if we could ever fully put this message into practice in our American culture of possessing things mindset. Hmmmm.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Prison or Work?
The Difference Between Prison and Work:
In prison...You spend the majority of your time in a 8 X 10 cell
At Work...You spend most of you time in a 6 X 8 cubicle
In prison...You get 3 meals a day
At Work...You get only a break for one mean and you have to pay for it
In prison...You get time off for good behavior
At Work...You get rewarded for good behavior with more work
In prison...A guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you
At Work...You must carry around a security card and unlock and open all the doors yourself
In prison...You can watch television and play games
At Work...You get fired for watching television and playing games
In prison...You have your own toilet
At Work...You have to share
In prison...They allow family and friends to visit
At Work...You cannot even speak to family and friends
In prison...All expenses are paid by the taxpayer, no work requred
At Work...You get to pay all the expenses and then they deduct it from yoour salary to pay for prisioners
In prision...You spend most of you life looking through bars from the inside wanting to get out
At Work...You spend most of your time waiting to get out and go inside bars
In prison...There are wardens who are often sadistic
At Work...They are called Supervisiors
In prison...You have unlimited time to read email jokes
At Work...You get fired if you get caught reading emails
In prison...You spend the majority of your time in a 8 X 10 cell
At Work...You spend most of you time in a 6 X 8 cubicle
In prison...You get 3 meals a day
At Work...You get only a break for one mean and you have to pay for it
In prison...You get time off for good behavior
At Work...You get rewarded for good behavior with more work
In prison...A guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you
At Work...You must carry around a security card and unlock and open all the doors yourself
In prison...You can watch television and play games
At Work...You get fired for watching television and playing games
In prison...You have your own toilet
At Work...You have to share
In prison...They allow family and friends to visit
At Work...You cannot even speak to family and friends
In prison...All expenses are paid by the taxpayer, no work requred
At Work...You get to pay all the expenses and then they deduct it from yoour salary to pay for prisioners
In prision...You spend most of you life looking through bars from the inside wanting to get out
At Work...You spend most of your time waiting to get out and go inside bars
In prison...There are wardens who are often sadistic
At Work...They are called Supervisiors
In prison...You have unlimited time to read email jokes
At Work...You get fired if you get caught reading emails
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