LOST AND FOUND
Richard Harris
Today’s Scripture: “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” Luke 15:31-32, ESV
Theme: God, give us new life!
FORGIVENESS
Through the Grace of God, the prodigal son received a new life - all through repentance and forgiveness. The old was gone, the new had arrived. Jesus uses this wonderful parable as an advanced teaching of what His Resurrection was about to bring. Think about it … one is either saved, or not saved. His resurrection was an open invitation to a new life, with hope for a glorious future.
With an economy of words, parables are short stories that teach moral lessons from concepts that have been around for centuries. Parables make them clearer by contributing a deeper meaning to that conventional wisdom. For example… Tell a child that lying is damaging. They may or may not believe you because of a lack of deeper thought. Tell that same child the parable of the boy who cried wolf, and they will think through the process of losing their credibility. The parable makes the concept easier to understand and so carries a deeper meaning. The parable of the prodigal son is the third such parable Jesus tells in Luke 15. All three teach about redemption and being saved. Understanding these three parables shows us that salvation is cause for the heavenly celebrations that follow.
REPENTANCE AND SALVATION
Repentance is a condition of Salvation. Going from being lost to being saved is a process we all must experience if we want to know and be with God. Some are lost, and know it, but do not know where to turn (sheep). Some don’t know they are lost (an inanimate coin) and need outside intercession. Others know that they are lost and are sinking beyond despair (like the prodigal son) until they find redemption through the Father.
The prodigal son had to let go of all his shame, regrets, and sins to be one with his father again. His brother didn’t quite understand, but his father did … as does our Father when we shed all those things that hold us back from salvation.
Make it Personal: Do you know anyone, or perhaps yourself, who is like the prodigal son? Making things better after messing up requires humbling yourself to allow our Father’s forgiveness. Celebrate and rejoice, because forgiveness is always a possibility. Remember – you can never out-sin God’s forgiveness. Are you lost, or found?
Pray: Almighty Father, we no longer want to be lost from You. May we please let today be our day to be found and saved, as we surrender our lives to You in faith. We thank you for helping us find our way to a resurrected life. We thank You for the opportunity of salvation. All this, Lord, we ask, praise, pray, and thank You for in the name of Your Glorious Son - our Savior - Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read: Luke 15:1-7, 15:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 6:63
Weekly Memory Verse: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8, ESV