Rejoicing

We are studying the book of Luke in our class on Sunday morning. I have really enjoyed the facts that Luke gives us on the life of Jesus. An interesting thing hit me as I was reading and listening yesterday morning on chapter 15 of Luke.

The parable of the lost sheep. One of 99 sheep are missing, but the herdsman leaves the 99 to find one lamb. He leaves the 99 in open country and goes after the one. How often do we as Christians do this? How often do we leave our comfort zone to go find one lost soul? Then, do we truly rejoice in the finding of that one lost soul? Just some things to think about.

Again, the parable of the lost coin. Do we clean house trying to find that one lost soul. She lost 10% of her coins, but she "lights a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it". How often do we as Christians sweep and look carefully for a lost soul?

Then the parable of the lost son. This guy becomes of age and decides he wants his part of his inheritance, and the father gives it to him. He goes away and squanders it, has to find a job to live and desires the food he's to feed to the pigs. Then he makes the decision to go back home hoping that his father would hire him as a servant. What happens? His father welcomes him with open arms, feeds him and gives him a home. Now what about the other brother who stayed behind and continued to work for his father? He gets mad, and refused to go. Feeling like the father has wronged him some way. But the father reminds him that everything that's left is his. And that his brother was lost or "dead" but now is found or "alive". How many times doe we find ourselves angry or upset at someone who was with us, leaves then comes back to open arms?

I can relate my life to all three stories. I have lost my faith, not really interested in finding what i lost. I have not search carefully for a fellow christian who's lost there way. I can relate to the brother who took his inheritance, lost it, found himself and came back. Then, i can relate to the brother who's stayed behind to help tend to things, then when a lost brother shows back up, had a hardened heart towards him.

And look who Jesus is telling the stories to. Pharisees, the self righteous Jews, who's complaining that Jesus is hanging out with and "welcoming" sinners. Hopefully I have learned some things here to apply to my life!