Supposing

February 4, 2011

Read Luke Chapter 15

Luke 15:4
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

Luke 15:8
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

The lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son are to be read as a three-in-one Parable. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law are offended by Jesus’ association with the ‘sinners’ and his celebration parties.

Suppose - Jesus invites us to see things from God’s perspective with this opening word, ‘suppose’.

Suppose - God loves those outside the church as much as those inside the church? These ‘sinners’ are the prostitutes, tax collectors and outcasts of society. They are the ‘open’ sinners – people who everyone knows live a sinful life. They are loathed and rejected by all cultures and not just the Jewish community. God loves them much, but it does not mean he loves others less.

Suppose – the church on earth is to play out the reality in heaven? If the heavenly beings are dancing and jumping over one person who is saved, then shouldn’t we Christians be partying, celebrating the return of one prodigal? This is then the ‘heavens meet earth’ reality.

Where then is the joy of Christians?

Suppose – this is the heartbeat of our God? Jesus tells these parables while on his journey toward Jerusalem. He knows that suffering and death awaits him there. Yet he flinches not and marches on. I suppose he is able to go toward Jerusalem because he is able to see what God sees and feels what God feels.

Am I supposed to take a harder look at my priority, my values and my direction then? Supposing that they do not reflect God’s message and heart desire, do I need to repent?

If so, I know there is a party waiting for me 