Luke 15:1  “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.”
Those who were the outcasts, who had nothing to lose.  Reminds me of the time in high school when I got into a discussion with two guys about Jesus and salvation.  After talking to them for a while, I happened to look around me.  Several people had pulled chairs up so they could listen as well.  Many of them were people who normally wouldn’t give you the time of day.  Those who could be considered the unpopular, the outcasts.  But they wanted to hear.  One of my great regrets is that I didn’t know more about sharing Jesus beyond my own testimony.  They had so many questions.  Also, that I didn’t find some way to continue the incident.  Only God knows what might have happened.  A missed opportunity.

4  “…if he loses one of them…”
The importance of one.

7  “…more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents…”
The lost has come home.  The relationship between the person and God has been restored.

8  “…what woman…”
Previous example said what man.  The emphasis is on the one who lost something more than that which was lost.  What man or woman would not so value what they had to the point of searching diligently until they found it?  God is the same way.  He values each person so much He did what was necessary to provide a way for salvation and then searches for and entreats them until they are found.

10  “…there is joy in the presence of the angels…”
Even the angels rejoice over one who repents and comes home.  Blows the mind that God would create such as us, then go to such great lengths to redeem us.  Scripture tells us the angels, and I’m sure the other creatures of heaven, long to understand the circumstance of our redemption.  That was something that apparently wasn’t offered to their kind when some rebelled.  And here I find myself a human rather than an angel.  One of a type which God so loves He chose to die for me rather than lose me.  Such a grand scheme.  It is beyond comprehension.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.