The cuddly monkey lay in a tree, dirty, dishevelled and sodden. Spotting the lost toy, Rachel was determined to find its young owner. She posted pictures on social media—Monkey eating sweets with Mr Elephant, taking a bath, and being tucked up in bed. “Monkey has been a great house guest so far,” reported Rachel. Monkey’s adventures soon went viral.
Distraught, fourteen-month-old Amalia hadn’t slept well since her beloved companion had gone missing in the park. But after a few days, her mum spotted the posts, made contact with Rachel, and returned the monkey to a delighted Amalia. “They’re now both fast asleep, cuddling tightly,” reported Mum.
Jesus tells two parables about individuals who rejoice when they find what was lost. God, as shepherd, “joyfully puts [the lost sheep] on his shoulders” (Luke 15:5). It’s an image of tenderness and intimacy, of a God who cares deeply for us. Likewise, the woman who finds her lost coin is so excited that she invites her friends to a party. “Rejoice with me,” she enthuses (v. 9). That’s how much God loves us and how precious we are to him. There is a celebration “in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (v. 10).
Sometimes we forget this. If you’re feeling low or abandoned today, meditate on God’s unbridled joy at being reconciled with you.
By Tanya Marlow
REFLECT & PRAY
To what extent do you see yourself as deeply loved and precious? What difference does it make to remember that God rejoices over you?
Loving God, thank You that You rejoice when anyone is reconciled with You. Please help me experience Your exuberant love today.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Throughout Scripture, people are frequently referred to as sheep (Psalms 79:13; 95:7; 100:3; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 50:6; Ezekiel 34:17–22; Micah 2:12; Matthew 9:36; 10:16; John 21:15–17). One characteristic of sheep is that they tend to wander and are incapable of taking care of themselves (as we see in Luke 15:1–7 ). They need a shepherd to guide them to pasture and protect them from predators and thieves. Yet throughout the Bible we also see that sheep were highly valued. They provided food and clothing for the people and sacrifices for the temple. Sheep know their shepherd and respond to the shepherd’s voice. John 10:3–4 describes how the Good Shepherd—Jesus—calls His sheep individually by name and leads them.
Alyson Kieda
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