Jump Start # 3649

Luke 15:3 “And He told them this parable, saying”

I taught a class recently on Luke 15. One just has to love that chapter. God is illustrated so wonderfully in that chapter. In many ways, Luke paints a picture of God for us. It’s not made with the brush strokes of an artist, but rather from the words and heart of a Savior.

I remember as a young puppy preacher asking legendary Robert Jackson how many sermons he had on the prodigal son. He told me around 32. At the time I was amazed. How in the world can anyone get 32 sermons from that. Now, decades later, I can’t believe he only had 32 sermons. We have a Jump Start book devoted to the prodigal son. If you’d like one send me an email (Rogshouse@aol.com). Long ago, I edited a special issue of Biblical Insights on the prodigal son.

Here are some thoughts for us:

First, we find ourselves so clearly in Luke 15. We’ve been that sheep that just wandered away. Not paying attention and not staying close to the flock, we got lost. Lost in the hype of political fever. Lost in the culture of acceptance. Lost in the maze of materialism and keeping up. So easy to just wander off.

We also see ourselves as that lost coin. Coins don’t get up on their own and move. They are dropped. They are misplaced. They are forgotten. And, so for us, we got lost because we were overlooked, forgotten, neglected, ignored. Our feelings got hurt. Someone said something we didn’t like.

But, we can be the prodigal as well. His was rebellion. Give me. I’m out of here. You won’t see me anymore. The call of the far country can be so sweet to our ears and so strong to our hearts. Listening to friends more than our Savior, we can find ourselves closing God’s book and doing what our heart tells us.

And, many of us have stood right along side that older brother in Luke 15. Smug, angry, hateful, closed heart and having no patience, grace or forgiveness for those who have done wrong. Arms crossed and refusing to go in, we’ve decided to break fellowship even if the church hasn’t or won’t.

It sure is easy to see ourselves in Luke 15. And, sometimes, like your driver’s license picture, it’s not the image that we like. Sin will do that to you. Stepping away from the Savior will do that to you. Luke 15 has a way of showing what we don’t want to see.

Second, all four images in Luke 15, the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost boys, all needed to be found. The sheep realized that. The coin technically can’t know that. The prodigal knew that. The elder brother didn’t know that. They all needed to be found. They all needed help. And, admitting that is hard for some. We want to find our way home on our own. We want to work things out on our own. We got off track a little, but we’ll get back on, we tell ourselves. Truth is, we need Jesus. We always need Jesus.

Third, what a gracious, compassionate, forgiving and generous God we have. That’s the image we pull from Luke 15. When the lost sheep was found, he carried it home around his neck. The shepherd didn’t beat the sheep. He didn’t try to teach him a lesson that he’ll never forget. Kind, gracious and forgiving.

And, with the lost coin, the woman didn’t give up looking. She swept the house, looking. She got a lamp to add more light to her search. She wouldn’t give up. She was determined that she was going to find that coin.

And, for the prodigal, what a joyful celebration that took place. The best food. The ring, sandals and robe, all indications of acceptance, trust and love. How generous the father was. How generous our Father is. No lectures. No sleeping in the barn. No work until you pay me back.

And, it was the father who went out to comfort and beg the older brother to come in to the celebration. A pouting son. The rebel was home, and now another son was gone. He stood outside refusing to come in. If the Father accepts, so must we.

Joy sprinkles through this chapter as wrongs are made right. The most transforming picture in Luke 15 is when we become the shepherd looking for the lost sheep, the woman searching for the lost coin, and the father celebrating the return of the wayward son. The lost has been found.

May we ever strive to be like God in this chapter. A God that the wounded, lost and hurt feel comfortable coming home to. A God that welcomes those who made mistakes. A God of second chances.

I want to be like that…

Roger