Searching for a Lost Sheep
One day a young college student walked into a church in the town of the university he had just begun attending. As he started to sit down, the lady in the pew behind him leaned forward and said, “Oh no, you can’t sit there! That is Mrs. I-shall-not-be-moved’s seat.” Picking up his Bible, the student quickly made his way to the other side of the auditorium. As he began sitting down for the second time, a young girl turned around and stated, “Oh, that’s Mr. Pew-warmer’s seat.” The student finally found a seat and sat down. As the last prayer was being said, he skirted around the people and out the door never to return.
Have you ever been to a new church or Bible study and felt like you were intruding? The story above is fictional, but unfortunately, it is based upon several true experiences.
Are we fostering an atmosphere of unconditional love and acceptance or one of exclusiveness and rejection?
The Pharisees and scribes often criticized Christ for eating and fellowshipping with sinners. The Pharisees and scribes were nothing more than religious cliques. They sought to follow the law in the minutest detail while at the same time missing the very essence of the law – to love God and love their neighbor as themselves (Lev. 19:18 & Deut. 6:5). These men were full of hypocrisy and pride. They wanted nothing to do with those who did not adhere to their strict rules and interpretations of the law.
The commentator wrote,
“The root of their uncharitableness was their opinion of their own righteousness, from the works of the law, according to their own jejune interpretation of it.”
In the beginning of Luke 15, we find the publicans and sinners drawing closer to Christ to hear Him. The Pharisees despised this. Christ attracted sinners because He loved them. The Pharisees repelled them, because they despised them. The publicans and sinners desired to be with Christ, for with Him they experienced unconditional love and acceptance.
In response to the ridicule of the Pharisees, Jesus told the Parable of the Lost Sheep:
“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:4-7).
Jesus did not come to save those who were already self-righteous. He came to save those who knew they were sinners in need of a Saviour.
Mark 2:17,
“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
“The greatest triumphs of the Gospel to-day are not won among the people who are religiously proud and prejudiced. The hardest place in which the Gospel has to win its victory is a congregation hardened to its message, and satisfied with its external forms of religion” (G. Campbell Morgan).
Let’s take a look at three lessons from this story:
The Retrieving of the Lost Sheep
A shepherd had one hundred sheep. Counting them one day, he noticed one was missing. Knowing the helpless state of the animal left on its own, he quickly left to seek it out.
The Bible often pictures us as sheep. Sheep are not the most intelligent of animals. Sheep do not have the ability to take care of themselves. And if given to their own devises, they will no doubt perish.
Philip Keller writes,
“It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in many ways…Our mass mind (or mob instincts), our fears and timidity, our stubbornness and stupidity, our perverse habits are all parallels of profound importance.”
Just as the lost sheep would perish without the constant care of the Shepherd, so would we without the constant care of our loving Saviour.
I believe there is a two-fold application here in this story. I believe the lost sheep not only represents the unsaved lost in his sin, but also the believer that has wandered astray.
Jesus seeks out the sinner who is entrenched in his sin. In like manner, He seeks out the backslidden believer who has wondered from the fold. We may move away from God’s presence, but He continues to reach out and to draw us unto Himself.
The Restoring of the Lost Sheep
The goal of the shepherd was to restore the lost sheep to the fold. Continuing to search until accomplishing this purpose.
Likewise, Christ’s objective in seeking out the lost sinner is restoration and redemption.
No matter how far a person strays from the fold of Christ, Christ still has a purpose and a plan for those who are willing to return. Don’t think that you are too far gone to be reached. God has used murderers, adulterers, and harlots to accomplish His plan. If He used them, He can still use you. When we choose to love the Lord, He will work all things for good in our lives. He even has the ability to use our past failures and mistakes (Rom. 8:28). The Lord desires us to grow and learn from our failures, not to wallow in them.
As believers, God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Those of us who have been reconciled to God have a mandatory obligation to seek reconciliation between our fellow man and God. God has given us the commission of seeking out the lost sheep and of reconciling them with the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ (Matt 28:19-20).
II Corinthians 5:18-19,
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
We cannot save anyone, but we can show them the way and tell them what great things God has done for them. If you feel intimidated to share the Gospel with someone, just share how God has changed your life. As you go about your day, hand out gospel tracts to those with whom you come in contact.
What are you doing today to reach lost souls with the Gospel?
What about the believer that has backslidden?
It is easy to cast these people aside when they have fallen, but it is the will of God that we seek restoration. If they are repentant and desire to come back into the “fold” (fellowship with the believers), what is your attitude? If it were not but for God’s grace, that could be you or me.
Galatians 6:1,
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
God wants us to extend unconditional love and forgiveness to those lost in their sin. We should not embrace the sin, but we should embrace the sinner. Christ died to save their lost soul, just as He died to save ours.
The Rejoicing for the Found Sheep
There is great rejoicing by the Shepherd as he finds his long lost sheep! He brings it home, places it back in the fold, and tells all his friends and neighbors his exciting news.
Luke 15:6-7,
“Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
Do we have the same rejoicing when a sinner repents and accepts Christ?
One of the greatest joys I have ever had is guiding a person in their acceptance of Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour.
The vital component to experiencing this joy is reaching out and telling others the good news of salvation.
How are you doing, dear Christian, in your witness for Christ?
Are you sharing Christ with others? Or are you allowing your religious prejudices to get in the way like the Pharisees did?
God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. It is our responsibility to share the gospel. If we don’t do it, then who will?
Yielding ourselves as tools in the hands of God and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us, will cause us to be used in reaching others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Thank you for this thoughtful look at a familiar passage! It challenges me and encourages me.
Thank you! 🙂