Luke 15:1-10
Telling stories was Jesus’ favorite way to teach people about God.
That is the opening line on the pages in the Spark Story Bible for children where Jesus tells his followers tales about a lost sheep and a lost coin.
The editors then go in to retell a story about a shepherd who loses one of his beloved sheep, only to leave 99 safe and sound together as he goes and searches for the one lost sheep. The also share the story Jesus told about the woman who lost one of her precious coins, and how she searched and searched until that coin was found.
Between these two stories they remind the readers:
Jesus loved telling stories like this about something being lost and then found.
And He did. Jesus came to seek the lost. He was always searching out those who had somehow become separated from the God who made them. That was His purpose in coming.
The Spark story Bible concludes these two parables by stating:
“God is like this shepherd and this woman, you know,” Jesus said. “God would never stop looking for someone who is lost.”
How true. God never stops trying to find us. God never stops inviting us back home.
Thank you, God, for never giving up on me. Help me to claim my place in the family as Your precious child. Help me to always find my way back home. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.