Lord, I am a sinner. I repent from my sins as I humbly ask for your mercy and forgiveness. Thank you so much for being my Good Shepherd who always seeks me out whenever I am lost. Truly, you will not allow that anyone under your love and care will get lost. With much love and conviction over your word that nourishes my entire being, I pray in Jesus Name. Amen.
There are times when my unworthiness dictates that I should not actively serve the Lord because I am a sinner. Those who serve Him in the church or in communities are righteous people. I just want to serve Him in my own quiet and humble way.
Joy in heaven comes from even a single sinner who repents. In heaven, there is no such thing as an "outcast". It is open to all those who wish to be reunited with God.
God Speaks:
Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:10-11)
Jesus came to the world not for the righteous but for sinners. He loves to be with them and even eats with them. The so called "righteous people" in his days has viewed this negatively and were completely blinded of the Lord's true intent and purpose.
God Speaks:
But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Friend, all of us are sinners who are always in need of a Good Shepherd. It is only by the Lord's love and grace that we were made worthy to be called children of God. Never allow your sins to set you apart from serving the Lord because service comes from a heart that is truly in love with God.
Scripture Reading
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him (Lk 15:1). And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them.(Lk 15:2)" So he told them this parable (Lk 15:3):
"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it (Lk 15:4)? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing (Lk 15:5). And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. (Lk 15:6)'
"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it (Lk 15:8)? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost. (Lk 15:9)'
"Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." -- Luke 15:10
"There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."' (Lk 15:11-19)
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. (Lk 15:20-24)
"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" (Lk 15:25-31)
Published 11/3/11-6:56AM, 03/02/13-8:05AM, 06/07/13-9:40AM
