Two Parables

As I told you yesterday, and then posted on FaceBook I have been having a bad week Spiritually, today's devotion is one I was trying to do yesterday. There are two parables, in two different books, that I am going to paraphrase instead of writing all those verses, and then I will get into the devotion, Please feel free to read the passage, before reading my version.
In Matt. 18:12-14 (Lk 15:3-7) we see the parable of the lost sheep, this man has 100 sheep and somehow one of them wandered away, as sheep do. So the man lock up the other 99 sheep, and heads out into the wilderness, climbing mountains, crossing creeks, and pushing his way through weeds, and bushes looking for his lost sheep. Then when he finds that sheep, he carries it home on his shoulders rejoicing, and gathers all his friends, and neighbors together because he is so happy.
Now over in Lk 15:8-10, we find the parable of the lost coin. The woman realizes one of her coins is missing, so she opens all the doors, and curtains, and then lights a candle to see in the dark spots, she cleans all the trash out of her house, she moves all her furniture, empties all the closets, and dumps out all the drawers until she finds that lost coin. Like the Shepard, she gathers all her friends so they can rejoice with her. Just as in heaven there is rejoicing when one sinner repents.
There is a common theme in both these parables, and that is God is seeking the lost souls, and He will do anything to save them, and once just one repents, He rejoices. I want to point out some things about the items that were lost.
1. The item was intimately known.
Not only did the person know that one was missing, but they knew exactly which one it was.
2. The items had value.
If not the person would not have spent so much time and energy looking for it.
3. The item is worth seeking.
Again, the person would not have went to so much trouble, except it worth it.
4. They did not give up/They were willing to do whatever was necessary
They did no stop until the item was found, they did recover the item
5. The person went to extremes to find the item
The Shepard went into the mountains, the woman tore apart her house, in order to find the item
6. When the item was found they were beyond happy, they rejoiced, and invited others to rejoice also.
7. They were not willing that any remain lost
Had it been another sheep, or another coin, the person would have reacted the same way.

Jesus was talking about Himself seeking out us, the sinner to come to repentance. Lk. 19:10"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost". 2 Peter 3:9 "The LORD is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance". He has went to extremes, in order to provide a way for us to be saved, and not be lost. He has given each of us a value, and we are all worth seeking after, He does not give up on us, we give up on ourselves. He knows each and every one of us, saved or not intimately. Lk 15:10 "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth". He gathers His angels together to rejoice over us.
If this does not bring joy to your heart, I don't know what will. True for the most part these parables are about the lost, those that have not accepted Christ yet, but what about a Christian that strays from the fold? What about a Christian that falls into sin, I am here to tell you that when that Christian repents, there is joy in heaven, just as if that person was just saved.
It's devotions like this that keep me going, despite all the things that are happening around me, and to me. Despite all the heartache, and disappointments, in spite of all the troubles, and trials. I know my heart has been recharged, I know I feel a joy I have not felt in a week. I pray that this is a big a blessing to you, as it has been to me.