To Seek the Lost

“And he [the father] said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found’ ” (Luke 15:31-32).

If there is one thing that we know that always deeply moves the heart of God, it is when He sees someone who is lost. The gospel writers point out that Jesus was often moved with a deep, heartfelt compassion whenever His loving eye made contact with weary and scattered sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36). But O how He greatly rejoices whenever a lost soul turns back toward Him. In fact, all of Heaven erupts in celebratory praise with the Lord over just one sinner who repents!

In His own words, Jesus said that He came "to seek and save that which is lost" (Luke 19:10). It is God's personal business to find whatever is lost that belongs to Him.

Jesus is in the 'Lost and Found' business. How did Jesus do this on earth?

Even though Jesus Himself had no where to lay His head, He showed great hospitality by openly receiving sinners and eating with them whenever He saw an opportunity to build a bridge to a hurting and broken heart. He would often go to great lengths to show His love and gladly ate with sinners, even in their own homes.

When the religious leaders of the day say Jesus meeting with them, they were repulsed and made accusations against Him. Jesus responded by telling them three consecutive parables about God's heart for the lost.

Three PARABLES concerning the LOST:

• The LOST SHEEP being Rescued.
• The LOST COIN being Recovered.
• The LOST SON being Received.

In each of these parables, we learn some important insights that we can practically implement to partner with the Lord in seeking the lost.

• Jesus sends us OUTSIDE to rescue the lost sheep who has left the fold.
• Jesus also sends us INSIDE the house to recover the lost coin that represents God's investment in His people and the investment in what the future holds for the bride.
• Jesus wants us to ALWAYS BE READY for the lost until they are found.

In the end, Jesus takes the two parables and shows us how each of these culminate in the last story, which is represented by the two lost sons who are both prodigals in their own right because neither are in close proximity to the Father who desires to lavish love on them.

So how do we learn from these parables?

First, we need to ask God to work in us a heart of compassion where we are moved in our hearts in a way that moves our feet to do something about the lost. This will always cost us something.

Then, we need to intentionally seek those individual lost sheep.
We need to discern those on the inside who have left their first love
We need to prayerfully wait and fervently pray for those to return home.

The Shepherd does the redemptive work 'outside' to rescue the lost sheep.
The Spirit does the revelatory work 'inside' the house to recover what was His.
The Father receives the son who simply receives and believes and comes home.

Therefore, we need to be...
Looking out for… the INDIVIDUAL
Looking after…the INVESTMENT
Looking up…the INTERCESSION

The last son is actually the one who Jesus is directing these parables toward since their hearts are exposed since they are unable to rejoice with him in the lost being found. The older son is trusting in his own righteousness while he points out the unrighteousness of his brother. But the Father pursues both sons who have lost their way.

When all is said and done and that which is lost is found…
We see a Rescue…a Recovery…a Reception that all leads to REJOICING!

Jesus concludes saying: “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

In heaven, there is NO lost and found, only lost souls brought in to God's loving arms!