Have you ever lost or misplaced something that was important to you? You typically can’t rest until you find what you are looking for.  I can remember having bought a present for one of my kids and I was so excited to give it to them.  I hid it because I did not want it to be found ahead of time.  When it was time to give the present I could not find it anywhere.  I spent hours looking and could not find it anywhere.  I searched and kept searching and trying to remember where it was.  Eventually I found it days later in a place I would never look (of course) my sock drawer.  Jesus tells us several parables describing God searching for the lost in such a way.  Let’s look together at His words in Luke 15.

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 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? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

If rescuing those who are lost is that important to Jesus than it should be important to us as well.  The Pharisees were upset that Jesus was hanging out with sinners but He was teaching them that is exactly where He should be.  Obviously we receive support and encouragement and mutual growth from our time with other believers.  We also have a responsibility to bring God’s love and message to the lost.  I pray that we all would do this with the same passion that we search for things that we have lost.  After all we are simply helping our Father find His lost children.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave