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Lost Things In Luke 15
Lost Things In Luke 15
In teaching the parable of the lost coins to a young preschool class, the teacher asked one little girl what the woman who lost the coin did. The girl responded: “She said: ‘It is OK, I have nine more.”
In Luke 15 we have three such parables concerning the lost: the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son. In each case the ‘owner’ cared about that which was lost. There never was the attitude that it was OK, I have 9 more, or 99 more, or even 1 son left.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Among his people, sometimes, like sheep, they wander off. Is there concern by the brothers? How do the elders (the shepherds of the flock) respond? How do YOU respond?
Do you diligently ‘sweep the floor until’ they are found? Do you go out and search behind every rock and bush until they are found? Do you long for them every day they are gone? Do you rejoice when they are found?
In each parable, there was rejoicing when the lost was found. While we may ignore the lost, God desires their return and rejoices along with the angels when they do return. We should develop the same love for each other, weeping and searching when one is lost, rejoicing when the lost returns.
Unfortunately, we are often like the older brother! Not only did he NOT rejoice at the return of his lost brother, he resented the joy that was expressed! Have you ever thought about those who are lost and said ‘it is OK, I have nine more’?
Hugh DeLong
