Explores God's relentless love, His pursuit of the lost, and His promise of salvation, as illustrated in the parable of the lost sheep.
Good morning, dear family of God. As we gather here today, let's take a moment to be still in His presence, to feel His love surrounding us, to listen to His voice whispering to our souls. We are here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. This is a sacred moment, a moment to connect with our Creator, to be nourished by His word, to be transformed by His truth.
Today, we are going to turn our hearts and minds to the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, a chapter that is so rich with love, grace, and redemption. The parable of the lost sheep, a story so simple yet so profound, a story that speaks volumes about the heart of our God.
The renowned preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for." This quote, my dear friends, echoes the heart of our sermon today. It captures the essence of our God's relentless love, His pursuit of the lost, and His promise of salvation.
Now, let's read together from Luke 15:1-7:
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
In the heart of the parable, we find a shepherd who has a hundred sheep. This shepherd, representing God, has an abundance of sheep, yet he is not content with the ninety-nine that are safe and secure. His heart aches for the one that is lost. This is a picture of love that is profound, a love that is not satisfied with the majority but yearns for the individual. It's a love that seeks out the one who is lost, the one who has strayed, the one who is in danger.
God doesn't just wait for the lost sheep to find its way back. He actively goes out to find it. He leaves the ninety-nine in the open country and goes after the one that is lost. This is a love that takes action, a love that is proactive, a love that is willing to leave the comfort zone to seek and save the lost.
When the shepherd finds the lost sheep, he doesn't scold it or punish it for straying. He doesn't leave it to find its way back to the flock. Instead, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. This is a love that forgives, a love that carries, a love that rejoices in restoration. It's a love that is not focused on the past mistakes but on the present joy of finding the lost.
Upon returning home, the shepherd calls together his friends and neighbors, asking them to rejoice with him for he has found his lost sheep. This is a love that celebrates, a love that invites others to share in its joy, a love that is contagious.
Jesus concludes the parable by saying that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. This is a love that values repentance, a love that rejoices over a changed heart, a love that prioritizes the lost over the found.
What kind of love? We see a picture of love that is profound, a love that is relentless, a love that is sacrificial, a love that is forgiving, a love that is celebratory, and a love that is transformative. This is the love of our God, a love that seeks and saves the lost, a love that rejoices over repentance, a love that is willing to leave the ninety-nine to find the one. This is the love that we are called to reflect in our lives, a love that is not content with the status quo but seeks out the lost, a love that is not focused on our comfort but on the welfare of others, a love that is not satisfied with mere numbers but values individual souls.
Ask ourselves: Are we reflecting this love in our lives? Are we seeking out the lost? Are we rejoicing over repentance? Are we willing to leave our comfort zone to find the one? Are we spreading the good news of this love to those around us?
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