SEEKING THE LOST
SEEKING THE LOST
There are hundreds of thousands of people today who are LOST on the path of life; they are heading down the path of destruction without a strong conviction that can guide them to change their course. This was not new because when Jesus was on earth, he gave parables that made it clear that we shall always have the lost around us, but we have to help them back to the right path. This is one of the passages, Luke 15:3-10
And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
What are the lessons that we can pick from the passage above?
- Come out of your comfort zone.
The shepherd who has 99 out of 100 sheep secured can be said to have a 99% pass, which is an excellent result. He can just ignore the stubborn lamb that has refused to stay in the confines of the fold. Whatever happens to it, who cares! After all, some ewes can still produce more lambs. But that is far from the kingdom business thinking. The lost lamb is not just a lamb but a lamb that can grow to produce more lambs. Jesus wants us to see a soul beyond one individual, but a person who will bring others into the kingdom. It feels so comfortable to stay with those who are already secure, it is not too stressful to relate with those who will obey instructions. But Jesus wants us to leave our comfort zone just as He did and go after the lost.
Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
2Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Jesus did this for us, let us do it for those who are lost in sin, those who are still trying to navigate through life, the spiritually blind and deaf; they all need us. This will make Jesus happy that we care for those whom he cared about.
- Acquire Knowledge to search.
The second parable of the lost coin is a little different from the lost sheep. The woman who lost the coin lit a lamp and swept the whole house until she found her coin. What does this mean? She does not need to go out like the shepherd, she knew the lost coin was somewhere in the house, but diligently, with the knowledge that light represents, she was able to locate the coin. Do you know that there are some people whom we see regularly in church or fellowship but they are not in tune with God? To help folks like these, we need to be more knowledgeable and have an insight into what might be the problem that they are facing, that is pulling them away from God.
In summary, let us do all we can to help the lost souls back into the fold of Christ. We are all a family of God.