Lost and Found

In Luke 15, we hear Jesus tell the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, and then the parable of the prodigal son. 

Each of these focuses on something lost being found.  A sheep, a coin, a son. 

In verse 7 we hear:

”I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.“  Luke 15:7 AMP

This emphasis is repeated in verse 10 and at the end of the chapter we see the son who remained faithfully by his father’s side pop up and say - this isn’t fair! What about me!

In churches in recent years there have been a lot of messages, ministry and discussions based around the faithful son!  Those “what about me!” feelings have been validated. 

But the Father didn’t mess around with His answer:

”The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was [as good as] dead and has begun to live. He was lost and has been found.’ ”  Luke 15:31-32 AMP

The focus of the Father was that someone was lost.  They were as good as dead and now they have been found! 

Church, for too long we’ve been focused on ourselves and looking for validation of our feelings, licking the wounds that previous (or even current) churches and ministries have, in our eyes, inflicted on us.  And it is right that we go to God and find healing and restoration in His presence.  But that restoration should lead us somewhere.  It should lead us right to God’s heart - His heart for the lost.  He leaves the 99 that are safe and He goes searching for the 1. 

It’s time for us to follow in our Lord’s footsteps and leave the safety of our only Christian fellowship and go after the ONE.  That’s God’s heartbeat.  That was Jesus’ mission on Earth.  That is our delegated mission on Earth: the Great Commission. 

Does your heart beat for the lost?  Do you search for them?  Is your life’s mission to seek them, save them and carry them back into the fold, as Jesus did with the sheep?  When was the last time you gathered friends and family to rejoice that someone came to Jesus because you went to find them and led them to Him?