This morning the Gospel passage was Luke 15:1-10. "Lost and Found". Whether
you are one of 100, one of 10, or one of 2, each one is precious to the Lord.
Matthew 18:12 shows the pains God takes over the perseverance of the saints.
Here we see the pleasure God takes over the conversion of sinners.
1. THE LOST SHEEP IS LOST HOPELESSLY 4-7
a. The Case of the Sinner.
Compare Isaiah 53:6a "all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every
one to his own way". The lost sheep is lost to the Shepherd, to the flock, and
to itself. Panic supervenes; it gives up hope; it lies down to die.
b. The Care of the Saviour.
Compare Luke 19:10 "the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was
lost". He is the Good Shepherd, who "gives his life for the sheep" (John
10:11). They are that precious to Him, that although ninety-nine are safe, He
won't abandon even one.
c. The Cry of the Shepherd.
"Rejoice with me!" he shouts. The joy is greater because of the former agony
of finding it again. In spite of Gethsemane and Calvary, it was "for the joy
that was set before Him" that He "endured the cross, despising the shame"
(Hebrews 12:2).
2. THE LOST SHEKEL IS LOST HELPLESSLY 8-10
a. The Darkness of the House.
This is a loose coin from the engagement-present necklace of silver coins,
lost helplessly in a dark corner of the house. It cannot draw attention to
itself. Now the Coinage of the Realm is stamped with the sovereign's image and
superscription. We human beings are made in the Image of God, and programmed
with His moral Law. We know right from wrong; know we are in the wrong, and
hide from the light (John 3:19-20). This coin is lost in the house. We may
have been brought up in a Christian home, but we are lost until we are found.
b. The Diligence of the Housewife.
She lights a candle; takes a broom; sweeps under all the cupboards. Jesus the
Light of the World "shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never been
able to put it out" (John 1:5). Jesus was very diligent, and by His death and
resurrection "brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel" (2
Timothy 1:10). You be as diligent: let your light shine to discover the lost.
c. The Delight of the Household.
They all shout with joy "Eureka! Eureka!" (like Archimedes in his bath on
discovering his Principle). "There is joy before the angels of God over one
sinner who repents" (10). Joy too in the Church, the household of faith.
[3. THE LOST SON IS LOST WILFULLY 11-end]
. . . but that is another sermon. The keynote here is Joy. Do you know the joy
of finding the Saviour? The joy of finding a lost soul and leading him to the
LORD?
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I did not mention New York. But we prayed about it a lot in the Intercessions.
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
