The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 28 February 2020 – TOPIC: JUST ONE LOST SHEEP!
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TOPIC: JUST ONE LOST SHEEP!
READ: LUKE 15:1-10 (NKJV)1. Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.2. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”3. So He spoke this parable to them, saying:4. “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?5. “And when he has found [it,] he lays [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing.6. “And when he comes home, he calls together [his] friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’7. “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.8. ” Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds [it?]9. “And when she has found [it,] she calls [her] friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’10. “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”*THE MESSAGE:*Happiness is an emotion which could be evoked by good fortune amongst other things. Joy on the other hand is a stronger feeling than happiness, experienced when one achieves selflessness to the point of personal sacrifice. The ‘shepherd’ in our passage could have allowed the one lost sheep to go, after all; he still had ninety-nine! He didn’t. He went all the way, sacrificing his time, energy, comfort, rest and happiness, to look for that one lost sheep until it was found. His joy was so much that he called his friends and neighbours to a thanksgiving service… for just one sheep out of one hundred! (verses 4-6,9).There is one thing we need to do to cause more joy in Heaven and that is to search/look for and find just one lost sheep or one lost coin (verse 4b, 8b). This calls for our time, devotion, commitment, patience and whatever it will take us to search out and share the Gospel message with that one sheep who has lost the way, left the fold or one that has never even believed in Jesus until he/she accepts Jesus or is restored to the fold (verse 7,10). While rejoicing, we will present such to our Heavenly Father thus provoking more joy in Heaven. There is joy among the angels… when a sinner turns repenting and bending low before our King!*PRAYER:* Dear Lord, help me to constantly cause more joy in Heaven through soul-winning