Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Luke 15:3-4, 8 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? ... "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?"
JESUS PUTS EVERY EFFORT INTO FINDING THE LOST
The Lord is intent on finding the lost. They are too valuable to Him not to look for. The two parables before us are very similar, but they both present an argument from the lesser to the greater. If a person would be willing to go after one sheep, even when he has ninety-nine in the field, and rejoices in the finding, how much more will Jesus go after one soul that need His attention? If a woman searches her house for lost money, how much more will Jesus diligently look for those that are worth more to Him than all the silver and gold in the world?
We know that if we saw someone, even a stranger, that was going to walk off of a cliff or step out into traffic, we would do everything that we could to prevent it. When there is one of the flock of God that is headed directly for the lake of fire that is hell, Jesus will stop at nothing to prevent it. And neither should we.
In the first parable we find that the shepherd did not delay in going after the one that was lost. It didn't mean that he loved the rest of the flock less. He knew that one was in danger and took action. When Jesus sees one in danger He doesn't shrug His shoulders and give up. He acts. He goes after them.
In the second parable we find this woman searching diligently for a coin. This was not just losing a quarter. This was a considerable sum of money. The woman didn't stop looking until it was found. So also the Lord pursues the lost -- with diligence. Did He give up on you if you had times of youthful indiscretion? No, He brought people into your life who brought His Word to you -- to bring you to repentance and forgiveness. Did He cast you aside when you were stubborn and rebellious? No, He patiently led you where you needed to go. So He continues to work in the lives of all people.
