1/15/07 - Life Journal - The One Lost Sheep

Then Jesus told them this parable: "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.' "
Luke 15:3-6

The Pharisees couldn't understand the fact that this person, Jesus, who was said to be a prophet or the Messiah would sit down with sinners. He then used this parable to explain again that he didn't come for those that were "righteous" but for the lost. In other words the parable could be about me, leaving two of my kids to find the third if they were lost or lost their way.

Our concentration can't be on those that are saved. Yes we need to continue teaching, discipling and growing them until they can feed themselves and go on to be teachers and apostles on their own but our main focus must be on the lost. Spreading the word and planting the seed so God can work in their hearts.

God, put the lives of so many people around us in our hearts. Break my heart so I can be a better witness for you.

10/02/07 - Life Journal - The Prodigal Son

But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:22-24

We've all read the parable of the prodigal son, if you haven't check it out here at Bible Gateway. It is a story, not of taking for granted the son that had stayed with the father, but of the joy in seeing the lost son who figuratively has died and come to life again. The father had to be literally be standing on his roof to see the son coming home when he was "still a long way off".(verse 20)

We spend so much energy in joyful praise with our fellow Christ followers but how many of us are standing on the roof of our house day and night searching for the lost son, waiting and praying for his return to life? Yes, Sundays we need to dig deeper into His word and refresh ourselves with learning, worship and fellowship but the rest of the time we need to be on mission. We spend so much of our "spare" time bogging ourselves down with small groups, classes, prayer groups, support groups, etc. that we have no time to search for the lost sheep! Prepare the banquet and get the fatted calf ready for slaughter. Be searching and waiting with a glorious robe for the lost that we can lead back into His eternal life. Go into the public, we can't hole ourselves away and keep patting each other on the back.

Lord, like the prodigal's father, put me on my roof searching for the sheep I can bring back into your fold. The saved are yours, the lost are mine.