Monday: Lost and Found
Jesus tells three parables in Luke 15:1-32, in direct response to the accusation of the Pharisees and teachers of the law that Jesus “welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2, NIV).
Read the following passages and note the essence of Jesus’ answer to these accusations.
Each parable begins with something lost and ends with a celebration, an expression of God’s love for us and His profound interest in our salvation.
Image © Rolf Jansson from GoodSalt.com
A pastor was following up a Voice of Prophecy interest and discovered that the whole family was interested in Bible studies, except one. The mother, father, and younger daughter had accepted Christ and were eager to receive the pastor in their home on a regular basis. The older son had rebelled against Christianity and wanted nothing to do with it. Every evening that the pastor visited, the young man left the room and would not participate in the lesson studies. After six weeks of cordial and productive Bible study, the young pastor began to challenge the three who were studying with him to consider baptism. Each had his or her own reason why he or she should wait a few months before deciding. Unexpectedly the young man entered the dining room where the study was in session and announced that he wanted to be baptized as soon as the pastor felt he was ready. He had been sitting in his room following along in a Bible he had purchased at a used bookstore after the first lesson, and all along was growing in conviction that he needed to make a public confession of his faith. Two weeks later the young man was baptized, and one month after that the rest of the family took their stand as well. Considering what we just read in the parables, we can imagine that there was joy in heaven over these decisions.
Jesus purposely placed Himself in contact with such people as the Samaritan woman at the well, a Roman centurion, a “sinful” woman who poured a year’s salary worth of nard on His feet, and countless unrecorded individuals “unworthy” of those who considered themselves too holy to be in their presence.
| Have you ever avoided witnessing to a person who would likely not fit well in your church? What would it take for you and your church to find sufficient grace to embrace those “sinners”? |
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I would do well to remember that at some time there was rejoicing in heaven because I returned to God's plan! I was where "they" were,and now I rejoice that sinners are welcome in "my" church! Praise God!
Witnessing can be very intimidating especially if you feel inadequate and unprepared. However, we must remember this is God's work we are doing and we are not along. One step at a time starts with a small smile or word can be a blessing to a person. But our hearts and our desire must be to do God's will. The Holy Spirit will give us the words and the courage we need to bring us closer to others who are hurting in this world. As we trust in God and continue his work it gets easier and easier to relate to others. I know this for a fact because I was very shy and reserved, now I can start a conversation with anyone. I praise God for helping me to grow to share his word.
At times God's ways of working are difficult to understand. The pastor must have been surprised by the young man's readiness for baptism because of his refusal to participate in the studies. To the pastor he had proved to be rebelling against Christianity but to God he was not only a participant but was more responding to the studies than the rest of the family.
There are some people who appear to us as beyond repentance, maybe because of their response or their characters but if we try other ways of ministering God can do wonders that can surprise us. The fact that we don't know the motive behind their reactions should lead us to depend solely on God, knowing that He is doing more behind the scenes.
This lesson teaches us that we should rejoice when God's children turn to Him and not focus on their past deeds. As people in the church we should make them feel welcome and loved, by doing so we are revealing Christ's character.
God gave us tongues and voices to testify about Him and His goodness in our lives, intimidating as it is we should try to do that because a person might turn to God through our testimonies. I was asked to testify on how I became an Adventist few weeks ago, I was nervous but I did it. It was good telling people my story of how God sent His children to save me from leaving the church. May God grant us the courage to do His work and testify about His love.
According to the lesson and parable, Sometimes we tend to put much emphasis on people who are very close to us, while very many outside are yearning for what others are trying to despise!!
Let's pray that we learn to consider every person as the most important even if he/she is not intending pay attention to you.
It takes humility and perseverance to do God's work.
I'm turn our thought in a different direction for a minute; I know this was not talked about in today's lesson, but I will tie it in with the lesson. Every time I read or hear this story, I think of the older brother, the one that stayed at home. Everyone was rejoicing that the younger son was "found", except for his older brother. The younger son could been killed or brutally injured during his prodigal living; but the older son only thought of himself, why he never got the fatted calf, why he never was praised for being all the right things. Don't you see? The older son represent the Pharisees in this story. The older son was always doing the right things, he was already righteous. He was full of proud and self-righteousness; he would humble himself enough to even welcome his younger brother back home.
Also, the older brother had a choice to make too; he could have chosen to leave his father as well, and go out in search of himself like his younger brother did. His father had many hired servants that could have taken over both of his son's work duties. The older son, he make the choice to stay. He decided to stay not because he necessarily wanted to, but because he wanted the earthly praise from his father and others for doing the right thing, for staying at home to help his father. As Jesus said "12 Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13...For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Those who are self-righteous have already received their praise and reward here on earth. Jesus came to give abundant life to those of us that are not so righteous, to the sick, and to the down-casted. However, anyone that come to repentance, the self-righteous and the sinner, Jesus will give to him the gift of eternal life. Remember Nicodemus.
Amen ..let God help us to humble our
self