26 February • First Sunday in Lent
Luke 15:1-10
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “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? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he
calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 “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? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Meditation
God’s attitude towards the human race is very clearly defined. He loves them and He longs for their salvation. The joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents illustrates His deep concern and intense longing for the salvation of men and women who are lost. God does not want
anyone to perish.
The 15th chapter of Luke contains one parable in which we have the story of the lost sheep who was stupidly lost, the lost silver coin which was carelessly lost and the lost son who was willfully lost. In each case, we notice the attitude of the owner to that which was lost. The Shepherd sought the sheep until he found it. The woman sought the silver until she found it. The father waited patiently, lovingly, until his son returned.
Meditate on the Triune God. The Father, pictured in the father whose son went into the far country. The Son, pictured in the Shepherd who went in search of the lost sheep. The Holy Spirit, pictured in the woman who searched for her lost piece of silver.
What does it tell us? It tells us that God cares for every soul! He has made provision through the gift of His Son for ‘whosoever’ to repent, escape the punishment of Hell and receive the gift of everlasting life. This is the joy of the heavenly host and is fully demonstrated by the crucifixion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. See Him there, dying in great agony. This is the ordeal Jesus had to suffer which He did not refuse at all because He wants us to have eternity with Him. Jesus did not find joy in the pain of the cross but in the result of the pain. The joy of resurrection, the joy of fulfilling His Father’s will, the joy of spending eternity with us in Heaven!
Prayer
God, use me as Your vessel to find the lost souls to know Your Son, Jesus, so that they can start worshiping You in truth. Indwell Your Holy Spirit in them. God, remove the evil influences from their lives that are blocking them from accepting Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Open their spiritual eyes that they may know that life is beyond the physical and earth is just where we prepare for eternity. In Jesus’ name, I believe and pray, amen!
Action
Ask God for the wisdom to preach the gospel of Jesus and may you open the hearts of those who are lost that they may be able to hear the word and accept it as the truth.
Seek God for His strength to uproot every lie that has been planted in their heart. Open their understanding that they may be able to see the truth found in His word.
Keep in step with the Spirit of God when He opens the door of opportunity for you to seek the lost. Claim the promises of God for every soul witnessed for Christ.
Colonel Hary Haran
Territorial Commander
The Salvation Army
Singapore, Malaysia & Myanmar Territory with Thailand
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