Day NINE
BEGIN
Pray to experience joy in Christ through our theme verse:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Review the memory verse for the week:
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)
READ
Read and meditate on this passage today: Luke 15:1-7
Look for what you learn about God and listen for what the Spirit is saying to you through the Word of God. Notice the central conflict going on in this passage. What is the issue?
Luke 15:1–7
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I 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.
Why were the people muttering? What was their concern about Jesus? How does his parable answer their accusation? Who does the shepherd represent? The sheep? What does the shepherd do when he finds his sheep? How does heaven respond?
PRAY
As the Spirit leads, let these themes guide you in your prayer today:
- Confess to God any ways that you mutter like the Pharisees.
- Thank God that he is the Good Shepherd who goes after his sheep.
- Ask God to show you any lost sheep you should pursue. And pray for them to be saved.
- Rejoice over any lost sheep you know who have been found.
JOURNAL
What are you learning as you seek Christ’s joy?
What do you sense God is saying to you in this passage, by his Spirit?
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SHARE
Talk with your prayer partner about what you are learning, how you are growing to experience more joy in Christ. Pray together.