When the religious crowd of Jesus’ day complained that He was spending too much time with the sinners of society, Jesus told a few redemption stories. He started with the story of a lost sheep, then of a lost coin, and ended with the story of a lost son—all of which were redeemed. Jesus’ application to the religious crowd was that when precious things (sinners) are lost, they need to be found. There is rejoicing in heaven over their salvation. Whether it’s a sheep, a coin, or a child, Jesus uses these stories to illustrate truths found in every story of redemption. God tells us that we are valuable, known and loved just as we are. And we are worth celebrating when we return to Him.