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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Luke Chapter 15 we have a parable, which has been divided up into three but it is one parable, giving us a wonderful revelation of the Heart of God. God saw men lost in their sin, and He sends His Son to find them. Jesus speaks about a shepherd who has a hundred sheep and one of them is lost. The lost sheep is a prized possession. It was valuable to the shepherd, and the shepherd goes and searches for the sheep that was lost.
Now, when you are lost - when you are out of the fellowship - aren't you sad and lonely and bewildered - and so isolated?
Being lost means - being on your own - being out on your own, and being found means, belonging - it means being wanted and needed - it means being involved in the fold - finding your place in the fellowship - along with all the others - and when absent, not only do you miss what is good and nourishing - but you are missed. There is a space which only you can fill. Here is a vital lesson for every disciple of Jesus Christ.
If you ever hear anyone say, "O, I can be a Christian on my own - I can pray on my own - I can be on my own and be just as good as he is or she is - O, I don't need the Church" - you can be pretty sure that person is a lost soul, and the shepherd is searching for lost souls.
When you are found - when the shepherd has found you - you want to be in the fold - and to be seen in the fold - with all the other sheep.
Verse 5. When the shepherd finds the sheep, He catches it, and grasps it firmly, clutching it, to the point of hurting the sheep. Sometimes as a pastor, there can arise occasions when you catch people and you have to say things which almost hurt them, to get them to remain safe within the security and safety of the fold and fellowship.
When the shepherd's strong hand is almost bruising you, it is out of concern and love to see you safe and rescued and brought back home to where you ought to be.
When the lost sheep is found there is joy. There is real rejoicing. Verse 6. Rejoice with me for I have found MY sheep which was lost. Jesus goes on to say that there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents.
Repentance is so important. It was the first word Jesus preached - and repentance - turning from sin - turning from what is wrong – and turning from sin can be sore and hard and difficult - and it can feel like a strong hand upon us turning us around.
That can be the mighty hand of our Loving Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Jesus then goes on to speak about a woman who has ten silver coins, and loses one. You can be on the inside and lost too. You can be lost and not know it, until it is pointed out to you. This dear woman lights a lamp, sweeps the floor, and works hard until the lost coin is found. She knows it is somewhere.
When you are looking for something on a dry mud floor and sweeping away almost in desperation, oh, the dust that can arise - oh, the mess you can make when you are looking for something that is lost and so you want to find it. You will turn a whole drawer out at times to find the one thing you are looking for!
When this woman finds the coin that was lost, again there is a fellowship meeting, and there is joy and rejoicing, because that which was lost is found.
Jesus goes on to say, "I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Before the joy, there has to be work. Before the joy, there has to be repentance.
The way we react when we hear The Word of God influences the atmosphere in heaven. The way we respond when Jesus the shepherd comes inviting us and calling us. The way we hear Him when He comes with His brush searching for us, can affect what angels do in the presence of God the Father.
Jesus Christ continues to search and look for people who are lost.
They can be lost on the outside. They can be lost on the inside.
He comes in His Love and Mercy, wanting to catch us, prepared to bruise us if that is necessary in the work of rescuing us, but He will do all He can to save us from the consequences of remaining lost.
And, to Jesus, every man and woman is so precious and so valuable. This is why He died. He knew that the only way He could truly rescue men and women was to be bruised Himself - to be crucified - to shed His blood and die. That is serious bruising.
The Father accepted the sacrificial blood, and this is the cleansing blood that washes away all our sins and blemishes and deals with out lostness, bewilderment, confusion and isolation.
Even within the Church, there are valuable things we have lost, and Jesus wants us to rediscover them again - riches and treasures - freedom in praise and worship and prayer - healing and miracles.
Lost sheep and lost coins - both have to be searched for and found - by various people. If you have been found by Jesus Christ, and placed in the security of this fold, just give your entire life to seeking that which is lost, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and joy and rejoicing will fill your heart and mind and body, and other people will see the difference, and perhaps through the very joy of Jesus seen in you, they may come to know Him as the Saviour, who seeks and searches for that which is lost.
Last week, I asked, “Which group are you in?” I ask it again. Do you sense and feel that you are sad and lost lonely and isolated, or do you know the security of belonging and being wanted and needed?
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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