Luke 15-A “As Long as it Takes”

S = 15:4-5,8 “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… “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?”

 

O = We need to remember that they were told to the Pharisees and lawyers with the people looking on. These parables are very familiar, and yet as I read them again I notice two things in particular as the parables unfold. First, the man leaves the 99 sheep in “the open country” (i.e., a safe place without mountains, dangerous valleys, and wadis [i.e., dry riverbeds and gullies] where predators and thieves could hide or sheep could fall). Likely there would have been others to watch over the sheep with a flock of that size. Second, how long does the man search for the sheep? The text says, “…until he finds it”, similarly the woman seeks diligently for the lost coin…until she finds it. How long? As long as it takes! We see that God takes the initiative in seeking out and restoring the lost. He doesn’t give up as if he was merely looking for a lost golf ball. Actually, looking for a golf ball is an interesting comparison, for it takes more than a few moments it can become embarrassing to the golfer and he will quit looking and drop a new ball. In these parables we see God’s unwillingness to write-off that which was lost and his willingness to do what it takes to bring restoration—even at great cost to his honor and dignity. For example, the running of the Father (v.20) would have been considered undignified.

 

A = Am I like a golfer briefly searching for a lost ball or am I committed like the shepherd or the woman to seeking until what was lost is found? I guess it depends on how much I love what is lost. The Pharisees didn’t care about the “sinners” but Jesus did. Do I rejoice at the repentance of one sinner or do I respond apathetically? Who will I seek out in prayer in the days to come? Who will I go after and gently carry back to the flock with rejoicing?

 

P = O Lord, let me be more concerned about the restoration of the lost than about my own honor, my own rights, my own time. May I be quick to celebrate the victories of others—whether small or great. Lord, may your love be the song of my heart this week. Thank you for doing whatever it took to bring me back to you as well. Thanks for the gracious restoration you offer that we could never earn, and the robe, the ring, the shoes and the party! Amen.