July 2006

08.03.2006

ne Parson’s Opinion

Winston Churchill, in his “Scaffolding of Rhetoric,” notes that an abstract idea goes in one ear and out the other. Concepts have to be turned into the concrete before they can be understood and remembered.

I believe this is why Jesus told parables. He wanted to make spiritual truth, which sometimes seems abstract, concrete and understandable.

Let’s take one of those parables and see the “master teacher” at work.

In Luke 15 there are three parables. The most famous one is the prodigal son. But let’s look to the early part of the chapter when Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep.

Now remember Jesus tells all three of these parables because the Pharisees complained that Jesus was associating with despicable people. All the parables show Jesus’ concern for that one who has lost his way.

So Jesus tells about the lost sheep. If a shepherd had 100 sheep and one strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, the good shepherd would leave the 99 and search for the lost one until he found it. Then he would joyfully carry it home on his shoulders, and gather neighbors and friends to rejoice because the lost sheep had been found.

Then Jesus says, in the same way Heaven throws a party when one returns to God.

Let’s identify the characters to be able to understand the parable. The shepherd is Jesus. The lost sheep is a Christian who has wandered away from the Lord. The lost sheep could be you.

If you are a lost sheep, the “Hound of Heaven” is after you. The Lord wants to take you back to a place of rest, life and peace.

Oh, lost sheep, won’t you let Him lift you upon His shoulders and bring you back home?

Home! Doesn’t the word sound good? You’ve tried to make life fit on your own and it hasn’t.

Why not enter that sweet surrender and live life to the fullest?

See you on the Lord’s Day,
Jim

Posted by arbc at 10:17 PM