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About-Him.Com Devotional 02-12-2005
Http://About-Him.Com/ My Thoughts on the Life of Christ, from His Baptism to His Ascension. 165: Parable of the Lost Sheep - Luke 15:1-7 1 ¶ Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Jesus had recently silenced His critics, made up of those in the religious circles, by healing a man of dropsy at the Pharisees supper, on the Sabbath day (Par. 162). The common people flocked to hear Him and He preached to them; not an easy message but rather that to be His disciple one had to forsake all and be ready to die for Him (Par. 164). At this point the publicans and sinners (tax collectors and prostitutes) flocked to hear Him. Jesus heard the murmuring, This man, eats with publicans and sinners. Jesus heard them and of course He already knew what was in their hearts. He then proceeded to give three parables that illustrated the very heart of God reaching out to the lost. They are the Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin , and the Parable of the Prodigal Son . These three are all part of one teaching, and should be studied together. Luke 15:3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 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? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. Jesus asked, "What do you do if you have a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away? Is there one of you that will not leave the ninety nine other sheep and go search in the wilderness for the lost one? Do you not lift this shivering lamb and hold him close to your body to give him warmth? When you see your friends, do you not say to them, ‘Rejoice with me, I found my lost sheep, he's back safely in the fold now.' Of course you do." 7 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. "Well," Jesus continued, there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than ninety nine just souls who need no repentance." Conclusion and Application: The publicans flocked to see Jesus. Jesus had previous extended an invitation to Matthew as he collected taxes, "Follow Me." Matthew did so and gave a great supper in honor of Jesus. Of course the only people who would accept his invitation were sinners, just like himself, and us. These folk knew Matthew and his former life. They saw a changed and different person now, following the Master. People watch and read our life and listen to our testimony. If our deeds match our words, they are impressed and are open to hear the gospel. A great painting comes to mind of the Good Shepherd reaching down to the lamb who has been stranding on the side of a steep mountain. Another of the Gentle Shepherd cradling a little lamb in His protective arms. A song also comes to mind: The Shepherd went out to search for His sheep And all through the night on the rocky steep He searched till he found him With love bands he bound him And I was that one lost sheep All of us have strayed at one time or another. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Perhaps we wanted a bit of excitement or we wanted to gratify our carnal lust. The Shepherd didn't berate the sheep when He found Him. No, He lifted him up and gave him warmth and shelter from the elements as He joyfully carried him back to the fold. What a picture of The Good Shepherd which Jesus described in John 10:1-17 ( See Par 153). The apostle Peter called Him the Chief Shepherd and Bishop of your soul (I Peter 2:25). The publicans and sinners flocked to hear Jesus, even as He was preaching on the cost of discipleship. People aren't impressed by easy believism, they want to hear it straight. There is a cost to discipleship. This is not found in legalism but rather in a mutual relationship with the Master. We forsake all and submit to Him totally as the shepherd and keeper of our souls. Jesus our Shepherd, God in the flesh, had a compelling drive to seek the lost. Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, Luk 4:19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. May we ever seek to have the same drive and anointing. Questions: 1. Anybody identify with the lost sheep? The carping Pharisees? Or both? 2. Anybody identify with the publicans and sinners? 3. Jesus had called Matthew and Matthew introduced Jesus to his sinner friends. Shouldn't we do the same? 4. Do we realize the effect of our testimony, both good and bad? 4. How does the picture of the joyful shepherd compare with that of an austere God ready to strike us down for the slightest misstep? 5. Are we not expected to be seeking the lost and extending a hand of mercy to them, just like the Shepherd?
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Signs Outside Churches:
If some people lived up to their ideals they would be stooping. Everything you ever wanted to know about heaven and hell but were afraid to ask. Pray up in advance. You think it's hot here? ( in an Arizona church in august) I was going to waste but Jesus recyled me. K-mart is not the only saving place. From the humor page of Walking with Jesus Ministries http://www.wwj.org.nz/
Somebody Has Said
"Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want." - Martin Luther
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