October 21: Lost sheep

All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!” So He told them this parable: “What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance."  (Luke 15:1-7 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)

This parable and two others right after it are directed at the Pharisees and scribes, the religious hypocrites of the day that were constantly criticizing Jesus. Throughout the gospels this group of people is mentioned again and again; they were a permanent thorn in Jesus’ side. — The fact that the gospels mention this group of people so frequently is a sign that they will always be with us. Just as Jesus was attacked by religious hypocrites, true believers today can expect the same treatment. This should not cause us to feel afraid or sad… it is a sign of genuine faith in God.

When a person accepted an invitation to eat at another person’s house in ancient times, it was a sign that he accepted that person, and for this reason the Pharisees complained that Jesus ate with sinners. They were implying that Jesus accepted the sin of those sinners, when in fact His purpose was to reach out to sinners and save them. He hated sin but loved the sinner, a concept the Pharisees could not understand because their faith in God was only a shell.

The parable in this passage is a tender description of how eager God is to set aside everything in order to save a lost person. If we do not have the same attitude, if helping a lost person to find the Lord Jesus does not excite us, we have to question the validity of our relationship with Him. This is our mission in life. If we accomplish anything, it should be to secure our own salvation, our family’s, and that of people around us.

I challenge you to do something to save lost people this week. Reach out to friends, neighbors, strangers, co-workers, family members… anyone. But be sure to do what Jesus did: welcome sinners and eat with them. By this I mean do something to win over their confidence, to speak on their level, to touch a nerve. Sometimes Christians speak to others and drive them further away from God; don’t do this. Speak their language, show acceptance but not approval of their sin, and show them how knowing God will bring them true life and happiness.