Let’s Throw A Party!

Luke 15:1-7 is one of the most popular passages of the Bible because it tells the story of the Prodigal Son.  It tells two other stories as well, the parable of the lost coin and the parable of the lost sheep.  But the reason for these parables was that Jesus "receives sinners and eats with them," which was something that groups lke the Pharisees would never have done. 

Let's take something else away from these three parables today.

The parable of the sheep is a story of a sheep who wanders away from the flock out in open country.  It was prone to attacks by lions and other animals, or just getting caught in thorns and not able to get out.  

Do you know anyone who has voluntarily left a Christian home or upbringing, and is just doing their own thing for whatever reason it may be?  This parable makes me think of this, because this was once me.  After a tough divorce, I decided God must not love me and so I was not going to love him.  I made bad decision after bad decision and didn't like where those decisions placed me.  But Grace found me.  Just like in the parable, Jesus came after me and didn't give up until I could realize his grace and love and my life has never been the same.

Or how about the parable of the lost coin?  A woman had ten silver coins, and lost one.  The parable says that she diligently searched the house, lighting a lamp and sweeping the house until it was found, and when she found it, threw a party!  Friends, if you have someone that is a member of your family, living in your household or not, who has turned from God or who has never accepted Jesus as Savior,  light that lamp (be a loving representative of Jesus Christ) and sweep that house (cleaning up your own life, searching diligently for how God needs to work in your life). When that "coin" is found, throw a party!  Celebrate the new life, and leave the old life behind.

Finally the parable of the prodigal son - do you know that prodigal does not mean "ran away"? Rather, it means to recklessly and wastefully spend money or resources.  Do you know someone who has taken their lives and gone into reckless and wasteful living?  One of our circle of friends has a child that has been battling drug addiction for over a decade.  But she and her husband love Jesus and pray diligently for him.  

Just like with the other two parables, when that prodigal son came home, they threw a party and celebrated!  This is what Jesus has for a person who is found by or returns to his grace and love.   So whether your person who is a sheep, a coin, or a prodigal, God loves him or her and wants them to be found and come home.  

Reflect

1.  Jesus used parables, or stories, to share ideas.  What is your favorite parable, and why?

2.  Of the sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son, which resonates with you the most?  Why?

3.  Think of the last time you planned a party.  What did you celebrate?  What in your Christian walk can you celebrate today?  

Can I pray for you?

Jesus, you are soooooo good to come out after us and look for us.  Not because you want to remind us of how we awful we are, but because you love us and want an abundant life for us.  The defeated one wants to steal our lives, kill any desire we have to love God, and destroy our lives, but you came so that we can have abundant life.  I pray in Jesus' name that the people in our lives would stop running and be found by your love and grace, and that they would let the salvation you have for them take their hearts and as you pormise, turn them from hearts of stone to hearts of flesh.  WE praise your name because you like to celebrate when even ONE is found.  Thank you for how you are going to answer this prayer.  In Jesus' name, amen.