Luke 15.

The parable of the lost sheep, coin and son was taught by Jesus, to reveal the heart of a loving God for the lost. The lost sheep did not know that it was lost nor knew its way back to the shepherd; the coin was lost within the house but the prodigal son of a loving father was willfully lost!

The love for money, to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of the world, separated the son from a loving father. Though the son went away to paint the town red, the father did not lose his love for him but was patiently waiting for his return. It is startling to note that the waiting father, at any given point of time did not run in search of his prodigal son but only waited for him to get back to his senses and take the route back home.

What an encouraging thought, that God is always eager to accept those who rebel and return to Him. The reason behind the father running with his long tunic to embrace his son outside of the village was to prevent the villagers from stoning him, since it was the practice in their community to stone the prodigal to death when he returned.

God wants us to have His attitude, even for the willfully lost and not react like the Pharisees and scribes, who neither showed love or pity to those who failed to meet their standards. They even accused Jesus of spending time and eating with sinners (lost people). The elder son lived with the father, yet did not develop the heart of the father.

Thought for the day: Jesus came into the world to seek and save those who were lost and not the self-righteous.