PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
8 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:1-10, NASB)
REFLECTIONS:
I am slowly (key word) unpacking some boxes that we quickly put away a couple of years ago when we had some water damage in the house. Some things in the boxes are trash, some items are heading to Goodwill, some will be given to those that can make better use of them, and some items are the reason for an amount of rejoicing. I thought they had been thrown out accidently in the hurry of getting things packed up. I know these are just material, sentimental items, but they do make my heart glad. I can only imagine the amount of joy the Lord receives when even one of His children is not relegated as trash and are indeed found. They, we are cherished and precious.
Ever been intently, persistently searching for someone or something? A lost child in a department store only to find them inside the cave of a clothing rounder singing to themselves—or—a lost beloved family pet on the other side of the neighborhood—or—a ring that seems to have grown legs and wondered away from where you normally leave it overnight? Once you find it, you are the “finder-er.”
As the finder-er do you jump up and down with glee? Are you overjoyed to the point of tears? Do you share the good news with a close friend? Do you question what and how did this happen?
It seems there is a correlation with the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin to when Mary and Joseph realized Jesus wasn’t with them in the caravan when they are returning from the Feast of Passover in Jerusalem. Luke 2:45 says, “And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him. For three days they looked for Him before they found Him.”
We are not told how long the shepherd searches for the lost one of 100 sheep, nor how long the woman searches for the one lost coin of ten. We do know they continue searching until the lost is found much like Mary and Joseph. None of them stop their diligent quest until they find specifically what is lost.
Our heavenly Father is the master finder-er; He does not stop His quest for us. Sometimes we fool ourselves into believing we are great hiders. I’m not sure how we think we are hiding from God, if we often cannot even hide from our loved ones until they find us. Jesus, unwavered by the Pharisees, communes with all of us and even eats with sinners. He is on His father’s quest for us and He makes a good find (you and me) right at the table along with all of the other sinners. I am grateful our Jesus takes on His father’s character in that He seeks us out no matter where we take ourselves.
In the parable of the lost sheep William Bacon Stevens, a theologian and historian from the mid 1800s, writes, “in a most emphatic manner did Christ "go after the sheep that was lost—until He finds it." The love that prompted the search was an infinite love; its well-spring was in the beginning; it had flowed from all eternity, and its fullness and richness are best illustrated in the costliness of its sacrifice, and the value of its atonement.”
Stevens continues with the parable of the lost coin, Christ “lit the candle of revelation, and with the broom of a holy law, swept the floor of this earthly house of our tabernacle—until he found the coin which was lost, relaxing no effort which Divinity could devise or execute, to recover the wanderer, and search out the lost; for ‘He delights not in the death of a sinner—but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live.’”
In Christ’s infinite love there is celebration over the lost! Scripture says “rejoicing”—being glad over the grace of God. That’s some kind of rejoicing. Then the shepherd and the woman call on their friends and neighbors to “rejoice” with them, this rejoice is to congratulate and join in with the gladness. The friends and neighbors get to mutually participate in God’s favor and grace over that which is found.
NOTE TO SELF:
According to the Enduring Word Commentary on Luke 15, the religious people of Jesus’ day had a saying, “There will be joy in heaven over one sinner who is obliterated before God.” In this sentence the word obliterated means that a sinner has let go, erased, destroyed the part of self… the sin …that keeps him or her from the Lord. The sinner has obliterated the worldly hold and is clinging to the handhold of Christ. The question the commentator asks is, “In our zeal to speak out against the sin of our culture, do we give the same expression?”
Recently I gave David Droman a ride to some medical appointments and he said something that has stuck with me daily. He said it was OK to share this with y’all, “There came a time when I realized it is more to die to self than for myself to die.” My question now is, “Am I obliterated before God?” How completely have I died to self, so that I can be found and live for and in Christ? When that happens, friends and neighbors, that is the time of celebration for all of us. Rejoice!
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I am grateful we cannot hide neither in the dangerous pitfall of sin nor in the dark shadows without Your eyes falling upon us. Your revelatory light shines through to us. Come use Your “broom of holy law” and sweep me out, every nook and cranny. Thank You Lord for rejoicing over the lost now found. Thank You Father that You are the mighty “finder-er” and that You go after us and search without ceasing. Lord, teach me to be obliterated before You. Please show me ways to be Your helper, “finder-er” in order to mutually participate in Your favor and grace over that which is found.
WHO AM I?
Spring is on its way. My favorite time of year is close and that makes me feel like rejoicing! <3 Gayle Norris
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