Luke 15
6 Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’
32 ‘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 15:6,9,32
With the water crisis that we are facing, I am reminded with shame of those times when I have wasted and abused the privilege of having more than enough water. That sad, bleak feeling overwhelms us when we don’t have something that we used to have and have become accustomed to, and most probably have taken for granted! We have literally moved from having plenty to very little or nothing!
In today’s reading (v6, 9, 32) we see exactly the opposite: what was once lost has been found and instead of sad, bleak feelings there is much celebrating and rejoicing!
Think about the time in your life before you became a Christian. Do you remember how bleak and sad your life was in comparison to today as a disciple of Jesus Christ? Do you remember the terrible things you did and were involved in and how much pain and suffering it caused you and your loved ones? Do you remember the joy in your heart and the celebration of those around you when you were enabled by the grace of God to cross that invisible line?
Well, this reading today must motivate you to stop and consider the lost-ness of so many people. But it must also make you stop and pray intentionally and earnestly for those who are near and dear to you who do not know how much they need to be saved from this world. Pray for those who are unknown to you and who are ignorant of God and His Son Jesus Christ. Pray for all those who minister God’s Word wherever they are. Pray that perishing souls be saved and the whole Church revived for great rejoicing and celebration to continue on earth and in heaven. Because what was once lost – through our prayers and the faithful work of many – will be found!
For the Glory of God.