Luke 15:1-7 15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu,Melech Ha Olam/Blessed are you O Adonai our G-D, King of the Universe. Shabbat Shalom Mishcopa/Happy Shabbat family
In previous devotions, I shared that I was adopted. I did not share that my biological mother is diagnosed with schizophrenia and was living in a mental health residential treatment program. On Thursday, I received a call from her case manager telling me that my mother is in the hospital. She explained that the boarding home sent her to the hospital, and when she was ready to be discharged, they refused to accept her back. My mother started to abuse drugs while living there and refused any professional help for her to get sober. Therefore they determined that they were unable to care for her any longer. Rather than her going to a shelter, she asked if my mother can home with me until they find another personal care home. Of course, I agreed to do so.
The following day I received a calling telling me they found her a place, and she can move in on Monday. Due to my mother suffering from schizophrenia, she displays bizarre behaviors and is disorganized in her thinking. She has no sense of the time and the weather. She wakes up during the mid-night hour, fully dressed with a coat and hat ready to go somewhere. And just this morning, before I began writing my devotion, she tried to leave. It is a good thing we have ring cameras because I was able to see her leaving. But what amazed me was how the Ruach Ha-Kodesh/Holy Spirit woke me out of my sleep and told me to check my camera, and this how I knew she left the house. I left the house in a hurry, and my son and I drove around until we found her. When I saw her, I thank Adonai that she was safe. Yes, I admit I was angry with her, but the relief of finding her outweigh my anger. I also understood then she needs to be somewhere that can supervise her for 24 hours. Nothing else matters at this time, only looking for my mother. Thought of something happening to her worries me.
While writing this devotion, I’m wondering how this connects to our relationship with Adonai. Then the Ruach Ha-Kodesh/Holy Spirit reminded me of the parable when Yeshua Hamashiach talked about the lost sheep. He was explaining to the Pharisees why he was sitting and eating with sinners. He explained to them that if you have 100 sheep and one goes missing. You will drop everything, leave the other sheep behind and find that sheep. Likewise, a woman having 100 pieces of silvers and losing one will not rest until she finds it. And we all recall the story of the prodigal son. And when you find what you have lost, you will rejoice. Well, this is what the angels do when one sinner repents. No one likes the feeling of losing anything, especially something precious to them. The thought of losing my mother was genuinely scary. But finding her was such a relief. Adonai is saying to the lost sheep; I will continue to search for you until you are found. We heard people say “cut your losses” It will be a sad thing if Adonai cut His losses before we came to repentance. He is a merciful G-d and has given everyone a chance to repent and returned to Him. His desire is for no one to be lost; “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
In closing, I encouraged you to repent while you still have the chance. And if you already have repented, then rejoice with the angels when others come to repentance. Remember what it was like to be lost. So we have to be patient with those who are still lost.
Shabbat Shalom Mishpacha
Your Achoti/Sister
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