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LOST AND FOUND
TUESDAY, AUGUST 5
Luke 15:1-16:13

Ezekiel 33:11

 

“I have found my sheep

which was lost.”

 

LOST AND FOUND
 
The parable of the lost sheep was spoken against the Pharisees and scribes who considered themselves so righteous that they would not contaminate themselves by being with publicans and sinners. Jesus had to tell them that sinners are important to Him. He taught us to search for the lost with love. When one sinner gets converted, heaven rejoices greatly.
 
The parable of the lost coin speaks of searching for the lost with diligence. God has committed the work of evangelism not to His angels in heaven, but to His people on earth. When Christians do their work diligently, and souls are won into the kingdom, the angels are very happy. I am sure they not only cheer when the lost is found, they cheer when Christians fulfil their Gospel duty by seeking out the lost.
 
The parable of the lost son actually deals with not one but two prodigal sons. The younger son who took his inheritance money and had a worldly fling represented the publicans and sinners. It tells us that no matter how much we have wronged Him, God is ever ready to forgive us, and welcome us home. The older son who stayed with his father appeared filial but actually his heart was far away from him. This is seen in the way he treated his father and his younger brother. He was selfish, and loved only himself. This unloving older brother represented the Pharisees and scribes. The younger son was lost and is found; whereas the older was lost throughout.
 
In the parable of the lost steward, Jesus was not commending the steward for cheating his master for his own gain, but for his shrewdness. Unbelievers know how to make use of money to promote themselves. Why should believers be any less clever? We know that the world’s wealth will last for only a while. So, we should be all the more wise in making use of it to gain the rewards that would last for eternity. We must make money our servant, and not our god. When we use the money that God has entrusted to us for the furtherance of His kingdom now, we can expect to be entrusted with greater things in His kingdom to come.
 
THOUGHT: “I once was lost, but now am found.”
PRAYER: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”

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