Luke 15 gives us some of the most direct counsel in how to love people back toward life in relationship with God and His family. There is a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. In the first two parables, the sheep and the coin are sought after, while the son is left to himself with the hopes he will return on his own.
The sheep represents people who wander. They aren't rebellious. They aren't angry at God or disillusioned. They simply have a curiosity for life beyond the boundaries of Kingdom living that they have yet to conquer. They are still waiting for their revelation that all things outside the pursuits of eternal life are ultimately settling for less. We follow Jesus' example and gently follow after them and encourage them to reconsider their place and life in devotion to Jesus and in relationship with His family. Their transformative measure is when they stop being the wanderer and become the retriever.
The coin is the only focus of the three parables that is lost at the neglect of another. This person deserves the most patience. Their being displaced is because of another person's sin. This is the one who was betrayed by a spiritual leader, a parent who terribly mis-portrayed faith in Christ, suffered a terrible tragedy as a victim...we never stop seeking them out. They desperately want to be found and need us to be relentless in our search for their lost hope. Their transformative measure is when their story becomes a tool for helping others to heal.
The son is left to suffer the consequences of his rebellion. We must not prematurely rescue the rebellious. Their pain is their teacher and we must not take them from school before the course of their God ordained lessons are learned. Their transformative measure becomes intervening in the lives of the people predisposed to rebellion and helping them avoid that defining moment of arrogance that fractures essential relationships.
He is risen!!
Pastor Fred
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