‘Rejoice with me, I have found …….. Luke 15:9
Luke tells us of three losses in one chapter. We’ve all lost things at times, small items which are insignificant and tiny, a telephone number or pencil; others are almost life-changing, our credit card or phone. The loss of the items in the story told by Jesus were on the important end of the scale.
Sheep were a shepherd’s livelihood. Every one was important to hi; they were his livelihood and his source of income and he also loved them as individuals. Many a shepherd would have risked his life just to rescue the one who was in danger.
The string of coins round a woman’s neck were worth much wealth to her. They would have been of value if her husband had died and she could change them into money. In her anguish she had shared the news with her neighbours, who shared her sorrow and then shared her joy.
The third lost item was the most important. The prodigal son was lost, but then returned home and was found. We recognise that this story is referring to a lost soul from the kingdom of God. How much God loves each one of us and doesn’t want any to be lost. When a wandering soul returns we are told that there is rejoicing in heaven.