April 27, 2025
The joy of finding the lost
Read: Ruth 3,4; Psalm 117; Luke 15:1-10
Scripture: Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
Observation: In Luke 15, we see three parables that Jesus told to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. Sometimes, we forget why Jesus said these parables. Here we read that the tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus' teaching. Whenever Jesus spent time with the sinners and tax collectors, he influenced them and changed their lives, which was never vice versa. The Gospel tells many such stories of transformation in the life of sinners. However, those who called themselves as guardians of the law did not understand Jesus' logic of welcoming the sinners. For them, he was doing something against the social norms of the day. The three parables we read in Luke 15 emphasize the joy and excitement of finding the lost ones. We can see a gradual increase in both the value of the lost and the joy in finding it or getting it back. Luke 15: 7 and10 tells us about the prevailing joy in heaven and among the angels when a sinner repents. The parable of the Prodigal Son illustrates the joy of the father who was waiting for his son to return home.
Sometimes, when a notorious or undesirable person wants to come to Christ, do we show the same joy and excitement that we show when we find something we lost? Instead of expressing our happiness for their willingness to come to the Lord, we may express our fears and apprehensions. At times, we may question their motives as well. However, Jesus rejoices at the repentance of a sinner. As we see in the three parables of Jesus, the progressive expression of the joy of heaven, angels, and the Father reminds us that we should be ready to find and accept the lost ones.
Application: If the repentance of one sinner would cause "more rejoicing in heaven," how much more should I be happy about it! The eagerness of the shepherd to find a lost sheep, the woman's curiosity to find a lost coin, and the loving father who ran toward his lost son to accept him with a loving embrace all remind me how important it is to seek and save the lost. When a sinner comes to God with a repenting heart, it brings a smile on God's face. Then, the sinner's transformed life brings more joy to his family and his society (e.g., Zacchaeus). I should be open to receiving someone who wants to come to Christ, irrespective of his history. I should remember that "every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future." Finding the lost gives me more joy than when it was with me before I lost it. The only difference now is that I know its value.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your love to accept me when I came to you. As a sinner saved by your grace, help me to show your love and kindness to others who need your salvation. Lord, help me be involved in seeking the lost and sharing the joy with you in finding them. Amen.
✍️: Arputharaj Samuel
📕: Quiet Time Companion
🗓️ Day – 117