What do you value? Is there something you possess that, if it were lost, you would go to any lengths to find?

This Sunday we will hear the entirety of Luke 15 (Luke 15: 1-32). Often times we like to pluck out the last parable, the parable of the Prodigal son, and spend time with it. But that famous parable really only makes complete sense within the entirety of Luke 15 where Jesus subtly challenges us to look at this question of what we value.

If something valuable is lost and then restored, we naturally rejoice. But if a person is lost and then restored, rejoicing may be muted or non existent. We have a difficult time forgiving and reconciling with someone who has made poor life choices.

But God’s perspective is, that because every person is valuable, we should rejoice when a person who has been lost is found. This is grace. God gives grace to us. Our call is to do the hard work of extending it to others.