| GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. REFLECTIONS: Ever lost something? And wanted to find it so bad. God longs for us to return unto him. So much that he would leave the glory and honor of heaven just for us. Notice: he said he would leave the 99 to find the one THAT WAS LOST. Jesus receives sinners and publicans, not the self righteous. In the original Greek the word for ‘To RECEIVE ’ means: To anticipate, to claim, to retain, to accept. I wonder if we sometimes look at others and wonder of the kind of company they keep, the kind of people they entertain, where do we see ourselves in this story? Do we feel like we are above the sinners and publicans of our society. Or do we feel like we are beneath the Pharisees and Scribes of our religious institutions? Do we look down at others or up at others. Who do we invite to our supper table? Better yet who do we exclude? Did anybody notice, How Jesus pointed out that they would willingly break religious custom to regain one lowly sheep. Yet for a human in need no way! Jesus was saying that which is considered worthless to man means much to God. God doesn’t judge by the same standard that men do. He is concerned about the condition of the lost, In other words you my reader are truly loved by God. And if you have strayed from him, He longs for your return to him.. He longs to dine with you. And he does not care what others may think. What matters to him is what you think. Did you know there’s a party waiting for you in heaven. There is Joy in Heaven over one soul that repents. hum...Makes me wonder when’s the last time I rejoiced over somebody being saved. A PRAYER’ Dear father, Oh daddy I love you, I adore you, thank you for caring, for coming, for praying. Today I will set my table for you, I will open my heart unto you, And when I expect you I will not expect you to come in the way most would expect. But come as you chose, come as you are, come in any form you wish just come Lord.. I praise you! I worship you! Today I pray for those who have been excluded from our tables. For those who have been rejected from our homes, from our hearts, may they find your love and provision and may we the offenders find your mercy and truth. To set us free from our self righteous mentality. God have mercy... Help us Oh Lord not to be so quick to judge and condemn. But quick to forgive and restore, to love and encourage. And to you be the glory and honor! forever and ever. Amen |