It’s hard to love the lost. Oftentimes, they have critical views of God, the Bible, and Christians. They think we’re foolish, superstitious, judgmental, hypocritical, and narrow-minded. It’s easy to harden our hearts in the face of such slander. However, this is not the way of Jesus.
Luke 15:1-7 Jesus tells a story about a shepherd who finds his lost sheep. Just as that shepherd rejoices when he brings that sheep home, so God and the angels rejoice when one sinner repents.
Luke 15:8-10 In a second parable, Jesus uses a domestic example to show how a woman who finds a lost piece of jewelry likewise rejoices with her friends when she finds it. Once again, this exemplifies our Father’s jubilation over the sinner who repents.
Luke 15:11-32 The Prodigal Son pictures God as a father who is eager to forgive once his lost child comes home. Though the older brother is faithful, he refuses to come inside and celebrate. His father gently corrects him with the words, “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”
God wants everyone to reach repentance and be saved–even those who defy Him, malign Him, and criticize Him.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
1 Timothy 2:3-4
This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
If this is God’s attitude toward the lost, shouldn’t it be ours as well?
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