Growing Joy June 21 Devotional

LUKE 15:6, 9 | ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’

⁹ And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’

There is a social risk built into our work for Jesus. The shepherd and the woman who lost her “coins” both invited “friends and neighbors” to share in the joy of the finding. Every invitation is a risk. Some may say no, and in fact, all may refuse to come. But genuine joy is meant to be shared and celebrated. It is not a special vintage only to be tasted by its owner.

Some of us can easily take physical risks but hesitate to take social ones!

Do you take social risks?

When did you last issue an invitation to a “finding?”

Gracious God,

Your divine joy is contagious and life-changing. Let me seek and save despite the risk and then have the courage to invite others to the celebration.

Amen.