Understanding the Underlying Love of God in the path to our redemption

Understanding the Underlying Love of God in the path to our redemption.

Luke 15 

All Things become New

In the Book of Luke chapter 15 Jesus shows us through three parables how precious YOUR redemption is, to God. It’s not just a restorative but a complete renewal of a destroyed relationship. Jesus bases these three teachings on common things that we understand and can identify with regardless of generation, culture or spiritual standing. He uses income, sustenance, daily living, possessions and family inheritance as teaching guides

The lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7 NIV)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Note that on finding the lost sheep, the shepherd puts it across his shoulders. He does not use a leash or rope to drag it home, nor does he use his rod to drive it back. But gently lifts it up to his shoulders. That’s how God brings us home, with gentle love. He is not out to shame us because of our past. This is the heart of Godly redemption and evangelism. We have to love people before we can evangelist to them. The story ends with “… in the same way, there’s more joy in heaven over 1 lost sinner who repents and returns to God…”

In this story Jesus challenges to see our need to be emotionally attached and involved as we evangelize and gently reclaim a lost soul. Sheep was a source of income, food and wool for clothing. It was a basic financial source for daily living. Losing one not only meant a loss in those areas but also an indication of possible bad stewardship, especially if no attempt is made to find the lost. Naturally we are emotionally attached to our income for the value it adds to our lives. So we do all we can to build and maintain it. We add value to the human family when we live a productive godly life. Here the good shepherd did all he could to find the sheep and lovingly bring it home straddled across his shoulders. That’s how God wins us 

Now to be clear, The parable is about our existence and redemption, not God’s. God does not need us for his existence because He is self existent and we can neither add value nor devalue Him by our actions.  The self existent attribute  of God is known as aseity. God Is! He is the I AM, as he told Moses. He is the uncreated Creator of all. 

However, the other side of the I Am is the We Are! That is us, humanity. There is an expected reflection of God in us as human communities. It’s not individualistic and selfish but communal as seen in these three parables. So the emotional expression of His Agape love in this parable is for us to see that he provides every means for us to be reached when we are lost into sin. Unconditional love is the driver of the spirit of evangelism that reaches the lost for his sake  (Isaiah 43:25)

The lost coin, the gem we are to God (Luke 15: 8-10 

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

In this short parable, a woman loses a valuable item in her own house. She turned on the lights, swept the house and searched until she found it. Rejoicing, she called her friends to throw a party. Note that she “lit her lamp” to search. In John 8:12 Jesus says “I am the light of the world and whoever follows me will never walk in darkness”. We need the light of the word of God in order to be found. Reaching out to others will require the Gospel light to be shed.

To God lost souls are a gem and their redemption brings Joy to Him and the heavens. He provided the Light to the dark world by giving His only begotten son Jesus to be that light. I don’t know where you are in life, but if you don’t know Jesus, the power of redemption is hidden from you. If you already know The Lord, then you are obligated to turn that light on for others. In John 5:15 Jesus says that no one lights a lamp and hides it in a bushel but rather puts it on a stand to give light to everyone. Angels in heaven rejoice when this happens.Imagine,  your actions in this regard make angels happy

Lost prodigal child, found redeemed, restored and redressed (Luke 15:11-25)

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

In the story of the prodigal son, we now clearly see the picture that fits most of us. God has given us everything as stated in 2 Peter 1:3. That “By his divine power, God has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness”. That means we lack nothing of the things that we need to live productively in our natural as well as the spiritual world. We are free to tap into it, all of us without exception or favor. Many times we are ignorant of, untaught, prodigal, wasteful and slothful, fearful and unwilling to try or simply unfaithful to God’d direction. So like the prodigal son, we go far away from God as the son did when he “went to a far country” to spend his inheritance wastefully. He ended up working for someone as a swine herdsman. In that culture working with swine was the lowest of the herdsmen job. They hired him for the lowest and the Bible says they gave him nothing. That’s what the devil does, he takes us to the lowest and gives us nothing in return for our loyalty to him. (verse 16)

But when he decided to go back to his father, the father welcomed him back with open arms. His father saw him from a distance and run to welcome him home (Verse 20). When the young man tried to downgrade himself by asking his father to let him work as a servant, the father ignored that. (verse 22). When God forgives us, he elevates us back to our rightful standing even though we do not deserve. That is His Grace. The father ordered a new robe for him. Our redemption means we get clothed in a new “Robe”, Jesus Christ and God sees our sins no more just as he promised in Isaiah 43:25 “I, yes, I Am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and remembers your sins no more”.

A similar “robe redress” is seen in Zechariah 3:1 when Satan whom the Bible refers to as the accuser of the brethren, tried to accuse Joshua before God. God shut the accusation down and instead ordered a new clean robe for Joshua and declared “I, the Lord reject your accusations, Satan..”. 

Once forgiven, you are now clothed in Christ and that’s the “Robe” that God sees”. That’s what is meant in Romans 8:1 “So now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..”. You are now his child again and when in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17 says all “Therefore if any maybe in christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new . And all things are in God”.

Impact Prayer

Father in the matchless Name of your son Jesus, I am all new now that I understand the Redemptive power of your Grace. I did not deserve but you made me worthy, have renewed my spirit and given me a new robe as you did for Joshua and the prodigal son. 

I have been prodigy, I was lost but now I’m found. Like the woman who had lost her coins, I thank you that you help provide the Light through your Son Jesus.

I am a new person and all my past is gone away according to your word. Thank you Father that I am now in Christ Jesus your son, Amen!

Graphic used  credit: pathwaytopeace.net