Lost & Found

Luke 15:1-2 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!

The Pharisees had drawn their “religious” robes about them and were shocked. Shocked, I tell you! Here was Jesus eating with, gasp, sinners! Rabbi Sheboygan almost died from apoplexy…

The Pharisees and scribes saw people in two classes: clean and unclean. They did their best to never come into contact with someone who was unclean. They preached that you could come to God if you did it the right way, but the onus was on you to find Him.

Jesus was having lunch with unclean folks. There he was, sitting at the table with them, laughing, listening and caring. Who did he think he was?

When Jesus heard their complaints, he told three different stories. The first two stories were about a shepherd losing a sheep and a woman losing a coin. In both cases they searched until they found what was lost, then rejoiced when it was found.

The third story was of the Prodigal son, who was lost and then found.

Jesus wanted the scribes and the Pharisees to know that it wasn’t all about us finding God, he was actively looking for us! For your entire life God has been trying to get you to accept his love and forgiveness. And just like the sheep and the coin, once he has you, you are so precious to him that if you become lost he will look all over to find you.  God doesn’t just save us, he keeps us.

Isn’t it time to let him find you again?

Today’s Readings: Zechariah 13-14; Psalm 147; Luke 15

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