As we celebrate the Christmas Season this year, I want to
encourage you to get a God perspective on the Season.
The stories of Luke 15 that tell of the lost sheep, the lost coin,
and the prodigal son have always stirred my heart deeply.
I remember as a believer the first time I heard these parables my
heart was stirred at the all-out search and celebrations of that which was lost
and found. Luke 15:1-24 reads…..
Story of the Lost Sheep
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all
drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying,
“This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So, he told them this
parable: “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? And when he has found it, he lays it on his
shoulders, rejoicing. 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.’ 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.
Story of the Lost Coin
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? 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.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one
sinner who repents.”
Story of the Lost
Son
And he said, “There was a man who had two
sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of
property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not
many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a
far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when
he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to
be in need. So, he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that
country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be
fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he
came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more
than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my
father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before
you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired
servants.” And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long
way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and
kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said
to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a
ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it
and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he
was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
What powerful parables of things lost and found and the
celebration of each. As I ponder them
during this Christmas Season I am reminded of when I was
lost. I spent the first 35 years of my
life lost. I didn’t even know I was
lost. Sure, I felt hopeless at times,
lonely at times, misunderstood at times, fearful at times and I made plenty of
bad choices that affected my life and many of those around me. But I had no idea that God had sent someone
to this earth to draw me out of the darkness of being lost, into the
light. But He did. He sent Jesus in the manner of a babe in a
manger. Baby Jesus our hope, the young
man Jesus our example, Jesus on the cross our Savior, Jesus Risen our way to
our eternal home.
So, this Christmas Season when you hear and see the Christmas
Story acted out may we take courage and hope in knowing He is still the Light
of The World. Please take a minute to
pray for all your family, friends, co-workers, and those people all over the
world that are lost and in need of JESUS.
His,
Vickie