"Party Time"

EPISODE 67

Rejoice When the Lost Are Found

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Have you ever been so excited that you got sick to your stomach? When I was a kid, knowing my birthday was coming up, I'd work myself up to the point of illness. It got so bad that one year my parents had to plan a surprise party a few weeks before my actual birthday. They invited all my friends, and I never saw it coming. Finally, a great party!

Jesus also spoke of unexpected parties in Luke 15. The Pharisees grumbled that Jesus was associating with sinful people (Luke 15:1-2). Addressing their terrible attitudes, he used three parables about finding lost things — a sheep (Luke 15:3-7), a coin (Luke 15:8-10), and a son (Luke 15:11-32). And in each story, after finding what was missing, they had an impromptu celebration.

Let's look at a few things we learn about finding the lost that should motivate us to rejoice as Jesus did.

Risk in Restoration

"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?" (Luke 15:4).

To go after that single lost sheep means leaving the rest behind — venturing out from the open country into the unknown wilderness. But the risk is worth it! Pulling a brother out of sin is going to take time. Often it won't be easy or comfortable. But know that your efforts are worth the investment, especially if they listen and return to the Lord!

Diligence in Discovery

"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?" (Luke 15:8).

If you've ever lost something around the house, you know this woman's struggle. But you'll never find what you're looking for by sitting on the couch. It takes effort. You leave no "stone" unturned. Are you actively seeking the lost? Or are you content to sit idly by and let them remain in that condition?

Rejoicing in Return

In each of these stories, a tremendous unplanned celebration took place when the lost was restored. In the last story of the lost son, Jesus addresses the Pharisees' hatred of those sinners he was eating with. The older brother in the parable becomes jealous of the celebration and resents his father's joy (Luke 15:25-30). The father answers:

"It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found" (Luke 15:32).

So, will you rejoice when your brother returns? May God give us all a heart of compassion and empathy towards each other to invest ourselves in diligently seeking the lost, celebrating together when they finally return home.