Daily Readings - Fri Jun 28 2019

¹¹"'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.¹²As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.¹³I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.¹⁴I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.¹⁵I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD.¹⁶I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

Romans

Chapter 5

⁵And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.⁶You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.⁹Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!¹⁰For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!¹¹Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Luke

Chapter 15

³Then Jesus told them this parable:⁴"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?⁵And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders⁶and 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 ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound theme of God's boundless love and His unwavering commitment to seeking the lost. In Ezekiel, we encounter God as the shepherd who leaves no sheep behind, emphasizing His care and hope for those who have strayed. This prophecy highlights God's promise to gather His scattered people, offering them rest and nourishment on fertile pastures, symbolizing His eternal care. The Romans passage deepens this message by illustrating the sacrifice of Christ, who died for us while we were still sinners. This unconditional love underscores the depth of God's mercy and the reconciliation He offers. Through Christ's life, we are not only saved from wrath but also brought into a loving relationship with God, a truth that brings us joy and glory. Luke's parable of the lost sheep personalizes this narrative, showing that each individual is precious to God. The shepherd's joy in finding the lost sheep mirrors the celebration in heaven over one sinner's repentance. This parable encourages us to seek the lost and to find joy in their return, reflecting God's own heart. In our daily lives, these readings call us to embody God's love. We are urged to seek those who are lost, whether through prayer, kindness, or compassion. Let us appreciate the depth of God's love for us and find joy in the opportunity to bring others closer to Him. May we reflect God's heart by being shepherds to one another, celebrating each return to faith with the same joy as heaven itself.