32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
These familiar parables all tell a similar story and make it clear that there is celebration in heaven when someone who was lost is now saved. It also made me realize that at our church we probably do not either have that many new Christians or that we are not celebrating those who have recently found Jesus.
4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
The first parable also tells me we should be active in looking for our brothers who are lost. We shouldn't just stay in the comfort zone of our friends and family who know Jesus but that we should be active in our effort to bring those home who have not found Jesus. Maybe more specifically, not just randomly seeking to help anyone find Jesus (nothing wrong with that) but, sharing with those you know best who may not know Jesus. I'm noting that in this parable the sheep he searches for is one he is familiar with from his own flock.
knut
These parables push the idea further that Jesus came for those that are far from God. He came for the sick and not the well. I love these parables. They give me a sense that no matter what I do, where I go....Jesus will still be looking for me to bring me back home. That is such a comfort for me. I tend to have the mindset that I don't do enough in return for that. But, in reality....I never could/can.
ReplyDeleteI love the parable of the lost son. We did a couples group series on it a couple of years ago. There are so many layers to that story. Which brother are you? Probably both. I know I am. It illustrates God unrelenting pursuit of us.
SO, GOOD!
tp