What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? (Luke 15:4, NASB)
Imagine being one under par in the first three holes of your first round of the season; positive thoughts are flowing until the brain changes gears on the fourth tee.
You start thinking, “Wow, this could be the best opening day ever.” As you turn away from the ball, a little voice says, “Don’t pull it left, or you will lose your ball in the mesquite.”
Sure enough, as you see the ball diving hard left, you are already walking back to your bag to get the provisional with a sliver of hope that you will find your ball.
Unfortunately, looking for that $4 golf ball amongst the thorns and branches of low-lying mesquite is difficult, with little chance of relief and probably a lost cause.
Looking for lost golf balls is similar to seeking out lost people; it can create thorny situations. Unlike looking for lost golf balls, seeking lost people doesn’t have a time limit.
Luke covers three parables in chapter 15: a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a “lost son.” We will focus on the parable of the lost sheep.
Think of people in your life that are lost. Maybe your child is lost in the culture and has fallen away from following Jesus. Proverbs 22:6 encourages parents, “Train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Be encouraged and remember, the Good Shepard never gives up and always rejoices when he has found the lost, “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”
If God is calling you to share the good news of Jesus with family or friends, don’t be discouraged if the results are not immediate.
Maybe your role in the process is to plant the seed, a conversation that develops later. More times than not, your friend or child is the lost sheep that doesn’t even know they are lost. Be present and encouraging, ask questions, and pray that you or someone else will “close the deal” for Christ.
Once they come to Christ, rejoice, throw a party, and invite your friends over to celebrate – just like the parable of the prodigal son.
“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘And rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Prayer: Lord, provide us with your Spirit to continue to be strong in our journey to seek the lost and to show them who you are and how much you love all of us.