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The Found (Luke 15)

by TerryLema December 15, 2021

Ah, Chapter 15 of the Gospel of Luke. What a wonderful chapter. Jesus tells three parables in this chapter. My bible titles them “The Parable of the Lost Sheep,” “The Parable of the Lost Coin,” and “The Parable of the Lost Son.” (Although that one should be “The Parable of the Lost Sons” since both were lost.)

I, however, like to think of these parables as the parables of the “Found.” The sheep, the coin and the son may have been lost initially but they end up “found” and what can be more glorious than that?

The poor sheep that wandered off and found himself all alone is wonderfully found by the shepherd and brought into the flock.  Then not only is the sheep happy, but the shepherd calls everyone together and rejoices “because I have found my lost sheep!” [vs 6]

The woman who lost her coin (because coins can’t wander off on their own) also rejoices with her friends and neighbors “because I have found the silver coin I lost!” [vs 9]

What joy there was for the son who rebelliously chose to leave the Father’s House but then returns to find the Father not only watching for him, but ready to forgive him for his rebellion and throw a feast to celebrate his return.

 “But the father told his slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.” [vs 22-24]

Jesus also reminds His listeners that “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.” [vs 7, 10]

I am one of the “found.” What joy abounds in my heart to know that there was joy in heaven in August of 1973 when I became one of those sinners who repented!

December 15, 2021 0 comment
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The Heart of God

by TerryLema February 15, 2020

One of my favorite chapters in the Gospels is Luke 15. Jesus tells three parables, the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son (actually both sons were lost, but in different ways.) In each of those parables we see the heart of God revealed in a unique way.

Sheep, I think, tend to wander off – one apparently wandered so far from the flock he became lost. The coin was lost through no fault of its own, someone misplaced it. The son was lost because he willfully walked away from the family in rebellion.

What warms my soul in these three parables is the amazing heart of God. In the parable of the lost sheep, I see God’s love for that single lost soul. Yes, God loves the world so much that He sent His Son to redeem it, but God loves me and you. He noticed when we weren’t where we should be and came looking for us.

In the lost coin parable, I see God’s persistence. That woman swept the house, diligently searching for that lost coin. She wasn’t going to give up until it was found and back in her possession. Neither is our Father God giving up on us.

And of course, in the lost sons parable, I see the yearning in the heart of God for all His children to be with Him, whether they had squandered everything given them and were returning destitute to Him, or whether they had a loveless, legalistic relationship with Him that kept their hearts far from His. He wants them all!

 What compassion God has for His children. He notices when one of us is missing. He diligently searches until that missing one is found. He greets those who will return with expressions of love and delight.

“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” [Luke 15:20]

February 15, 2020 0 comment
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Pastor Terry Lema

Pastor Terry Lema has been married for 53 years, and has 3 children and 3 grandsons. Terry graduated from Trinity Bible College, and and recently retired as Lead Pastor at The Way Church in Middleton, Idaho.

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