A Heart for the Lost
By Dean Collins
If you have ever wondered how much Jesus cares for those who have lost their way, then just read Luke 15. This chapter contains three parables Jesus told to teach us the extent of how we are to care for and love those who have gone astray or maybe have never considered how much God loves them.
As I read this wonderful chapter of Luke’s gospel, I found myself focused on the first and last two verses. While these three parables teach us about the extent Jesus will go to in order to demonstrate his love for the lost, the opening and closing verses of the chapter may well be for those of us who believe in Jesus but are reluctant to open our hearts to people not like us.
At first glance we might find ourselves nodding in agreement with Luke as we see what Jesus is doing. We tend to enjoy it when Jesus takes a jab at the Pharisees. After all, those guys are over the top with their rules and judgments about people. But maybe we need to ask ourselves if we sometimes drift toward the attitudes of the Pharisees. Here is Luke’s opener:
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
The very ones who were the most familiar with the Old Testament scriptures seemed to forget how much God has always longed for the sinner, the lost ones, the neglected to discover and know his love. And if the Pharisees did remember, they had strict requirements for how one might repent and follow the rules in order to be even noticed by God.
Jesus did the opposite. Instead of avoiding or being bothered by those in need, he invited them to hang out with him and share meals. Doesn’t it seem obvious that the approach of Jesus was more compelling than the approach of the Pharisees? I can’t think of one scripture that suggests that the lost and needy wanted to hang out and eat with the Pharisees. And if they did, they would have never been allowed to do so.
About 20 or 30 years ago, many churches developed a “seeker friendly” approach to their Sunday worship times. The logic of this approach made sense. If we want people to consider God, then we need to provide a welcoming environment for them to do so. This approach has been successful in many ways, and many of these churches have seen significant growth. I suspect every church hopes that non-believers feel welcomed when they walk into church buildings.
But maybe there is a prerequisite step. What if those of us who love Jesus and have surrendered our lives to him took the first steps toward what Luke called the “tax collectors and sinners”? What if we made a conscious effort to spend time with and around people who don’t go to church and don’t know Jesus? I will admit to being guilty of hanging out with more believers than non-believers. If you admit to the same, then maybe we need to read the parables of Luke 15 again and pray that God changes our hearts toward the lost.
If you aren’t yet convinced of how easy it is to become more like a Pharisee than like Jesus, then read the last two verses of chapter 15. At the end of the parable we often refer to as the prodigal son, we find the older brother angry because his loving father celebrated the return of the prodigal and had a big party to welcome him home. When the older brother pouts and complains the father said this to him:
“Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”
Lord, forgive us for the many times we have ignored and neglected people who don’t yet know you or share our faith. Reveal to us the crusty places in our hearts and transform our minds to be more aware of how and when we can welcome others to get to know you and love you. Fill our minds and hearts with new compassion for the lost. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Luke 15 ESV
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