Four Things Lost In Luke 15

By Jimmy R. Mickells

The Pharisees and scribes complained about Jesus receiving and eating with sinners. This prompted Him to state some parables about things that were lost and then found. This is the very reason He came to this old sinful world, so sinners could be received by the Father and have fellowship with Him (Luke 19:10). Each time, when something had been lost and was found, there was rejoicing in heaven (vv. 5,6,7,9,10,23,24,32). It seems to me, there are different reasons for each thing being lost. This should be a warning to each of us.

The sheep – its own negligence (vv. 4-7). This animal had strayed from the ninety-nine and was lost. How many people are lost today because they neglect their own salvation (Hebrews 2:1-3)? They have no one to blame but themselves. In the parable of the sower, the seed that fell among the thorns, sprang up yet was choked with cares, riches and pleasures and brought no fruit to maturity (Luke 8:7,14). Does this not describe the lives of so many today? They get so involved in their personal lives, there is no time for the Lord. Many excuses are offered for their negligence, yet none will suffice when they stand before God in judgment.

The coin – the negligence of someone else (vv. 8-10). The coin was lost, but the lady was the one who misplaced it. People have gone astray because others have not fulfilled their duties and responsibilities to them. It is not enough to lead someone to Christ. We must do everything we can to ground them in truth, so when they are faced with temptations, they will be strong enough to endure. We should speak words of encouragement to them, even when reproof is necessary, it should be done in a spirit of love and humility. Every faithful member in a congregation should be loved, appreciated, and accepted by all. I’m afraid, in some churches, a few feel like they are on the outside looking in because of the way they are treated. How sad to think of someone being lost because of my negligence!

The younger son – because of his choices (vv. 11-24). He was the one who made the decision to travel into a foreign country and waste his inheritance on prodigal living. Thankfully, he finally came to himself, return to the father, and was forgiven. Have you ever made any bad decisions that involved sin? We all have done this on various occasions, for which we had to repent. Yet, there are many who have made the same bad choices, refusing to repent, continuing to live in sin. Some times pride stands in their way; they don’t want to admit they have been wrong. They may be enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season (Hebrews 11:25), refusing to give up their sinful practices. Regardless, they like the prodigal, are the ones who must come to themselves, admitting their wrong, and return to the Father who mercifully waits for them.

The older son – because of his attitude (vv. 25-32). This son could not find it in his heart to rejoice over his younger brother’s return home. He was angry and upset over the celebration the father and the servants were having because of this son’s repentance. It seems to me, this older son represents the Pharisees and scribes that were complaining because our Lord was receiving and eating with sinners. Our relationship with God is affected by the attitude we have toward other people. If we are going to receive forgiveness, then we must be willing to forgive others (Matthew 6:12,14,15). The attitude of heart, needed by all of God’s servants, is given in the sermon on the mount. We must be poor in spirit, able to mourn, meek, a people who hungers for the right things, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and able to endure persecution (Matthew 5:3-12). God will mold us into this kind of people, if we will let Him. Simply follow His word.

If you need to repent, why not do so today? Angels in heaven will rejoice over your repentance. And I’m sure, that good brethren, who love the Lord and souls of men, will rejoice as well. &

They Have Been Revealed

By Bob Myhan

The apostle to the Gentiles, in order to explain that what he had taught in Corinth was not based on the wis­dom of men, wrote the following.

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hid­den wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

⁹But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

¹⁰But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ¹¹For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹²Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. ¹³These things we also speak, not in words which man's wis­dom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Cor. 2:6-13)

Contrary to what one brother recently wrote, Paul is not saying in verse 9, above, that we do not know what God has pre­pared. To affirm that it does takes the verse completely out of context. And “a text out of context is a pretext.” Paul is actually affirm­ing the opposite.

The statement of Isaiah, as quoted by Paul, was true when Isaiah wrote it. God kept the to­tality of His eternal purpose secret for thou­sands of years, though He revealed parts of it at various times through a variety of prophets.

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revela­tion of the mystery kept secret since the world began ²⁶but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, ac­cording to the commandment of the ever­lasting God, for obedience to the faith-- ²⁷to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. (Rom. 16:25-27)

which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: (Eph. 3:5)

So, just as “the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David” (Acts 1:16-20), so He spoke by the mouths of the apostles and New Testament prophets.

Thus, “The things which God has pre­pared for those who love Him” were re­vealed by Him in the first century to the apostles and the prophets, who then spoke and wrote them in words given to them by the Holy Spirit, just as the Lord had prom­ised (John 14:25-26; 16:12-13). &