In Luke 15 Jesus tells a parable in three parts to show how much God and all heaven rejoice when the lost are found. Jesus begins with a lost sheep, then tells of a lost coin, and finishes with a story of a father’s extravagant love for his two sons. As we hear the final story, let’s consider with which son we most identify. In the end, though, the most important figure is the loving father. May we embrace our heavenly Father’s gracious gift of prodigal love.

The greatest command in the Bible – the command that encompasses all other commands – is love. This month as we look at Jesus’ parables that only Luke records, we come to the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. As familiar as the story is to us, the lesson is shockingly new every time we read it: the love God expects from us knows no borders. May we hear the story again with fresh ears for renewed obedience so we may “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)

Jesus tells a parable about a fruitless fig tree that gets a second chance at life, but even those days are numbered. Jesus is showing us that repentance and fruitful living are non-negotiable in the kingdom of God. God is patient with us, showing great mercy, but God’s mercy does not cancel out his justice. May we respond to God’s call and his shaping hand in our lives so that he will find us full of good fruit.