lukas 15 - leavethe99
1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninetynine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninetynine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
determination n.
1. The act of making or arriving at a decision, 2. Firmness of purpose; 3. A fixed movement or tendency toward an object or end.
There is this sense of determination upon the shepherd. To go after the lost sheep. 99 is not enough. Not when it comes to something that you treasure. When you are determined your focus is set on what you value. The movie Ransom demonstrates this determination. Mel Gibson plays the father of a kidnapped son, on national TV, he screams out - I want my son. I mean there were many other sons, they could have gotten him another son. No other son would do.
The heart of the Father is a determined heart. He kept coming after me, he pursued me, he was relentlessly determined. He didnt quit, give up, hold back, he kept pursuing me.
Do I have the heart of my Father? Am I determined to go after the one? Am I extending myself to those that are outside of connection with God? Am I determined to leave the comfort of familiarity of those that are found to go after the lost ones that God clearly values. The Father's focus is on what he values, align my focus with yours Lord.
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninetynine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninetynine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
determination n.
1. The act of making or arriving at a decision, 2. Firmness of purpose; 3. A fixed movement or tendency toward an object or end.
There is this sense of determination upon the shepherd. To go after the lost sheep. 99 is not enough. Not when it comes to something that you treasure. When you are determined your focus is set on what you value. The movie Ransom demonstrates this determination. Mel Gibson plays the father of a kidnapped son, on national TV, he screams out - I want my son. I mean there were many other sons, they could have gotten him another son. No other son would do.
The heart of the Father is a determined heart. He kept coming after me, he pursued me, he was relentlessly determined. He didnt quit, give up, hold back, he kept pursuing me.
Do I have the heart of my Father? Am I determined to go after the one? Am I extending myself to those that are outside of connection with God? Am I determined to leave the comfort of familiarity of those that are found to go after the lost ones that God clearly values. The Father's focus is on what he values, align my focus with yours Lord.