THE LOST SHEEP - Reading from Luke 15:
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 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."
How valuable is one soul? One? When one becomes saved, he deserves a hug and a cheer! A pat on the back and not the words, "Well, it's about time you get your act together!" No. Heaven cheers for ONE saved soul!!! Do we cheer?
THE LOST COIN - "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rojoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15: 8 - 10
ONE sinner! Rejoicing in heaven! Just yesterday, Matthew couldn't find the necklace that Hadassah got for him at camp. It's a necklace with a cross on it and Matthew really loves it! We searched until we found it. When he saw it again, he smiled and he was so happy! The lady lit a candle and searched hard for that ONE lost coin! We have the 'light' of Christ within us! A burning candle to help find the lost souls! God's kingdom is built ONE soul at a time!!! (I am writing these words from the notes that I took during Sunday's sermon. I feel like I am preaching to myself!!! I need these reminders!)
THE LOST SON - "Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare,and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son: make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slavering for you and never disobeyed our orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!
"'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"
Luke 15: 11- 31
Oh, there is so much that I don't really understand in this parable. If I were the son that never strayed, I think I would be saying the same thing ... "What about me? Where's my party?" But on Sunday, as I was listening to this being preached, it hit me. All that is God's is already mine if I am a believer in Christ! ALL. What more could I ask for? Another earthly party? More recognition for me? Sometimes life seems unfair and like some people just get it all, but that's OK. I needed to be reminded that God has rewards for us Christians in heaven that we seriously can't even grasp here on earth! Gold. Silver. Mansions. Jewels. So much more that my eyes have ever seen!!! I have seen some gold and silver and when I hold a little piece of something like these in my hand, I am amazed at it's wealth! Can we imagine "streets of gold"? Wow, let's celebrate!!!
That dad seen his son coming home a far off and he was so happy to see him and have him back home! He celebrated! Let's reach out to those who are hurting and help them 'come back to Jesus'.
I was also challenged to encourage our children when they do something good! Give them a pat on the back and celebrate!
Here's a picture I took the other day from our garden.
The sunflower is ready to burst with it's color! I hope today you can burst forth with your color in life! Celebrate!!!
