What do these three parables teach
us? What do they show us about God’s
heart and desire?
These might seem like obvious questions,
but they a worth answering. In all three
cases something lost is found and the owner celebrates. A sheep, a coin, and the two sons show us
that God still seeks sinners. Just like
in Genesis 3:9, God is still calling to the sons and daughters of Adam – you and
me – “Where are you?”
God’s heart and desire is to seek and
save sinners. Jesus flatly states in
Luke 19:10, “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.”
Often churches get wrapped up in talk
about mission and vision. These are
important things to be clear about!
These three parables are at the heart of both our mission and
vision. God desires for all people to be
saved and come to knowledge of the truth.
(1 Timothy 2:4) This is the missio Dei – the mission of God. As His people we get swept up into that
mission, joining our Father in heaven, as He calls sinners and saves them. And He celebrates their salvation.
This is our story, too, for we were all
once lost in trespasses and sins. Jesus
died to save us, too, and God celebrates that you are found. Now our job is to share what we have
received. As we sing in Amazing Grace, “I once was lost, but now
I’m found. Was blind but now I
see.”
The vision that we are given of the
church here is that we live in a world where people are lost, in peril, and
facing certain doom. We are those who
have been found, saved, and given hope and a future. That does not make us better than anyone
else. We have simply been blessed to be
in a different position. Now we are sent
back into the world with a life line – the Gospel of Jesus; crucified, risen,
and coming again – to help rescue as many others as we can and rejoice in their
salvation.
We have been found to help find others;
rescued to join the search for sinner.
We are saved to be agents of salvation, to speak the Word that saves,
and to show people that Jesus saves sinners, even us!
Lord, forgive me for the times I have turned
away from sharing the Good News. Let me
see myself as one who is saved to be and agent of Your salvation. Help me lead someone who is lost to You, Jesus. Amen.
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