In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus tells a story about a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep, all of which are exactly where they should be and doing exactly what they should be doing, to look for one sheep that’s lost. Then, in Luke’s Gospel, He immediately follows this story with the Parable of the Lost Coin, a story about a woman who tears her house apart looking for one lost, silver coin. In both stories the response to recovering what had been lost is rejoicing and extravagant joy. And (just like when Peter is reinstated), in each story the sheep didn’t find its way back to its shepherd and the lost coin didn’t make its way back into the woman’s hands. The message is clear: in the Kingdom God searches, God pursues, and when He finds what’s lost He celebrates. To God, no one is expendable, no one is written off, and no one is too far gone. And, if this is the heart of the King, then it’s to be the heart of His people, too.