LOST and FOUND
"There was once a man who owned a hundred sheep" He said. "And while he was tending his sheep, one of those wooly little critters wandered away. So the shepherd left the ninety-nine behind and went out and searched for the one that was lost. And he kept on searching until he finally found it. He tenderly picked up the sheep, put it around his shoulders, and carried it back to the flock. Then he called some of his shepherd friends and said, 'Let's have a party. I found my wandering sheep!""
Jesus paused for a moment. Everyone was still listening. "Then there was a woman who had ten coins," He continued. "She lost one of them. So she lit a lamp, swept the house, turned over all the furniture, and searched relentlessly until she found it. And when she did, this woman was so happy that she called her friends and asked them to celebrate with her."
Jesus stopped again and looked around. Maybe He wondered if they were still with Him. Then He went on, "There was a man who had two boys, and the younger one got a little cocky. He got stars in his eyes and wandering lust in his heart. He wanted to taste life on the wild side.
"So he talked his father into giving him his inheritance early, and he headed out into a distant land with his pockets full of cash. He found the fast lane and the fast crowd and he did some fast living. But he soon found out that the kind of friends he'd found don't stick around long when the money runs out.
"One day while he was feeding pigs to try to support himself, this disoriented, bankrupt boy finally came to his senses. He decided to go home. He figured he would apologize to his father for his naivete and immaturity, and then he'd offer to become one of his father's hired hands, since he knew he had forfeited his right to be regarded as his son.
"So he started off for home. His father, who had spent hours each day watching and longing for his son's return, saw him when he was still a long way from the gate. Immediately, the hope-filled father ran down the road to embrace his son. The boy started to say, 'I made an awful mistake, Dad, and I don't deserve to be your son-' But eh father interrupted. 'Shhhh, don't talk like that!' he said. 'I'm so glad you're finally home! He rejoiced and ordered a huge party. He said, 'Invite everyone, kill the fattened calf, and bring out a fresh suit of clothes. My wayward son has come home!' And did they ever have a party!"
There are some common threads that run through these stories in Luke 15. The first is that in each one, something of great value was missing, something that really mattered. If we can understand how much we MATTER TO GOD. then we will understand the two responses regarding that which was lost. The second thread is that there was an all-out-search for what was lost until it was found. No giving up and no giving in. Finally, when the item was found there was an outburst of joy and celebration (a big fat party!). Luke 15:10 says, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
All of heaven erupts in a magnificent cosmic celebration. There is an enormous party with each repentant person's name on the banner. Think about it...it's overwhelming-
PEOPLE MATTER TO GOD.
Adapted from 'Becoming a Contagious Christian' -Hybels, Mittelberg
