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God Loves the Lost and Straying! Lk.15:1-32

We can see clearly from these parables that God loves the lost and straying. Jesus the Good Shepherd seeks the lost sheep. The Father lovingly receives the son who sinned but was willing to repent. The Father entreats the son, whose heart is angry, jealous and hard.

These stories teach us the value of a person in the eyes of God. The shepherd values a sheep that is lost. He will leave the flock and give every effort to find the lost sheep. No effort is too great, no distance is too far. Jesus laided down His life for His sheep. The Father gave the most precious One heaven had to offer to save our souls. There is great joy in heaven when a person is saved. No cost is too great to redeem a human soul. “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1Pt. 1:18,19 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you … for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5:9-10 “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Rev. 5:12 Jesus is talking to two groups of people in this chapter. “Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” vs.1,2 There is the story of two lost things found. There is the story of two brothers straying from the presence of the Father. One strays by outward rebellion and sin. This is the younger brother. By the end of the story, He has repented and has come home to the Father and is enjoying fellowship with the Father. “Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.” However, at the end of the story, the older brother is left outside the present of the Father, away from fellowship with his brother and his Father. He is angry, unwilling to obey his Father, resentful and ungrateful. “Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”Rejoice! The precious lost sheep has been found. Rejoice with the angels in heaven! The valuable coin has been found. A man had two sons both were dearly loved by the Father. One took his inheritance and wasted it in sinful living. But by God’s grace, he repented of his sins. The other son grew angry, resentful, ungrateful, disobedient and bitter. Which story is most like your story? Are you a lost sheep or coin? Are you a son straying in a far country with sinful living? Are you the son who has strayed in your heart, mind and tongue? May God grant us repentance and faith. Receive His gracious gift! May the lost be found. May the straying come home into the loving presence of the Father. To God be all the glory. Amen.