Stories About God’s Love

1. The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7)

One day, Jesus noticed that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were upset. They were grumbling because Jesus was spending time with sinners and outcasts. “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them,” they muttered.

In response, Jesus told them a story: “Imagine you are a shepherd with one hundred sheep. One day, you realize that one sheep is missing. Would you leave the ninety-nine sheep behind and go look for the one that is lost? Of course, you would! You would search high and low, even through the darkest valleys, until you found it.”

When the shepherd found the lost sheep, he joyfully carried it back on his shoulders. Upon returning home, he called his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him. “I have found my lost sheep!” he would say.

Jesus explained, “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” This parable shows that God’s love is persistent and unrelenting, always seeking out the lost to bring them back into His fold.

2. The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)

Before the Pharisees could question Jesus further, He told them another story: “Imagine a woman who has ten silver coins. One day, she realizes that one is missing. Does she shrug it off and continue on with her day? No, she lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it.”

When she finds the coin, she is so delighted that she calls her friends and neighbors to celebrate with her. “Rejoice with me! I have found my lost coin.”

Jesus then explained, “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” This story highlights how precious each individual is to God, and how much joy there is in heaven when a lost soul is found.

3. The Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32)

Jesus told a third story to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, illustrating God’s boundless love. “A man had two sons. The younger son asked his father for his share of the inheritance, and the father gave it to him. The son then went to a distant country and squandered all his wealth on reckless living.”

When a famine struck the land, the young man found himself in desperate need, even feeding pigs to survive. One day, he came to his senses and decided to return home. “I will go back to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but please make me like one of your hired servants.'”

As he approached his home, the father saw him from a distance and ran to embrace him. “Father, I have sinned,” the son began, but the father interrupted and ordered a celebration: “Bring the best robe, put a ring on his finger, and prepare a feast. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

The older son, who had been working in the fields, became angry when he learned of the celebration. He complained to his father, saying, “I’ve been faithful all these years, but you never gave me a party. Now, this son who squandered everything gets the best celebration.”

The father replied, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate, for your brother was lost and is found. He was dead and is alive again.”

This story reveals the depth of God’s grace. No matter how far we stray, God is always ready to welcome us back with open arms, full of love and forgiveness.

4. The Workers and Their Wages (Matthew 20:1-16)

Jesus told another story to illustrate the nature of God’s kingdom: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a silver coin for the day’s work, and they went off to work.”

At nine in the morning, the landowner returned to the market and hired more workers, promising to pay them fairly. He did the same at noon, and again at three in the afternoon. Finally, an hour before the workday ended, he hired more workers, saying, “Why aren’t you working?” They replied, “No one has hired us.” He told them to join the others in his vineyard.

When the day’s work was finished, the landowner instructed his foreman to pay the workers, starting with the last ones hired. To everyone’s surprise, each worker, regardless of how many hours they worked, received the same silver coin.

The workers who had been hired first complained, saying, “We worked all day in the heat, and yet we only get the same pay as those who worked for just an hour!”

The landowner replied, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did we not agree on the wage before you began? I choose to be generous to the others. Is your eye evil because I am good?”

Jesus concluded, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

This parable teaches us about God’s generosity and grace. In His kingdom, everyone is equally loved and valued, and His grace is not about what we deserve, but about His abundant love and mercy for all.

These stories reveal the incredible love and generosity of God, showing that His grace knows no bounds. Whether it’s the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son, or the workers in the vineyard, Jesus teaches us that God’s love is unending, His forgiveness is lavish, and there is great rejoicing in heaven when a lost soul is found. God’s kingdom is not about what we deserve, but about His deep love and desire to bring everyone into His care.