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Karen asked her parents if they would be able to keep her cat while she and her family were away on vacation. Julie knew how much her grandchildren loved their cat -- Betsy. The day before vacation "Betsy" was dropped off at their home. Truthfully the cat was not too much trouble.
One day a delivery person came to the door. As Julie stood with the door open Betsy ran out of the house. In only a matter of seconds the cat was out of sight. Panic set in as Julie and her husband quickly went searching for the cat around the outside of the house and in the shrubbery. Since the cat did not live with them all of her surroundings would be unfamiliar. Julie dreaded the thought of having to tell her grandchildren that their beloved pet was lost.
Down the street they walked, calling Betsy. Julie phoned several neighbors asking them to be on the look out for the missing cat. She worried about the cat, which is an indoor cat with no claws to defend herself. Hours passed and still no cat. As the sun set they thought they would never see Betsy again. She was lost in a strange neighborhood.
After one more search around the house they went to bed, but had difficulty sleeping. Then shortly before 3 a.m. they heard the faint cry of the cat. At first Julie thought she was dreaming, but slowly woke up. Grabbing a bathrobe and turning on the porch light she found the missing cat. Betsy looked frightened by her ordeal. She picked Betsy up and brought her back inside the house, giving her food and milk. A sense of relief and gratitude swept over her -- the lost cat was found.
Jesus told two parables about lost things in response to the "grumbling" of the religious leaders. The first was the shepherd who leaves behind 99 sheep to diligently search for the missing one. The shepherd's only focus is on the one lost sheep and when the missing sheep is found there is great rejoicing. The second short parable is about a woman with ten sliver coins, she loses one and then turns her home upside down searching for the lost coin. When she finds it she invites her neighbors to a party to celebrate. We need to actively search for those who do not yet know Jesus and have a relationship with the church. And when we find them a grand celebration is in order. Jesus said, "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance."
One day a delivery person came to the door. As Julie stood with the door open Betsy ran out of the house. In only a matter of seconds the cat was out of sight. Panic set in as Julie and her husband quickly went searching for the cat around the outside of the house and in the shrubbery. Since the cat did not live with them all of her surroundings would be unfamiliar. Julie dreaded the thought of having to tell her grandchildren that their beloved pet was lost.
Down the street they walked, calling Betsy. Julie phoned several neighbors asking them to be on the look out for the missing cat. She worried about the cat, which is an indoor cat with no claws to defend herself. Hours passed and still no cat. As the sun set they thought they would never see Betsy again. She was lost in a strange neighborhood.
After one more search around the house they went to bed, but had difficulty sleeping. Then shortly before 3 a.m. they heard the faint cry of the cat. At first Julie thought she was dreaming, but slowly woke up. Grabbing a bathrobe and turning on the porch light she found the missing cat. Betsy looked frightened by her ordeal. She picked Betsy up and brought her back inside the house, giving her food and milk. A sense of relief and gratitude swept over her -- the lost cat was found.
Jesus told two parables about lost things in response to the "grumbling" of the religious leaders. The first was the shepherd who leaves behind 99 sheep to diligently search for the missing one. The shepherd's only focus is on the one lost sheep and when the missing sheep is found there is great rejoicing. The second short parable is about a woman with ten sliver coins, she loses one and then turns her home upside down searching for the lost coin. When she finds it she invites her neighbors to a party to celebrate. We need to actively search for those who do not yet know Jesus and have a relationship with the church. And when we find them a grand celebration is in order. Jesus said, "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance."
