重要的福音信息：失喪，卻尋回
路加福音十五章1至10節
1眾稅吏和罪人都挨近耶穌，要聽他講道。
2法利賽人和文士私下議論說：這個人接待罪人，又同他們吃飯。
3耶穌就用比喻說：
4你們中間誰有一百隻羊失去一隻，不把這九十九隻撇在曠野、去找那失去的羊，直到找著呢？
5找著了，就歡歡喜喜的扛在肩上，回到家裡，
6就請朋友鄰舍來，對他們說：我失去的羊已經找著了，你們和我一同歡喜罷！
7我告訴你們，一個罪人悔改，在天上也要這樣為他歡喜，較比為九十九個不用悔改的義人歡喜更大。
8或是一個婦人有十塊錢，若失落一塊，豈不點上燈，打掃屋子，細細的找，直到找著麼？
9找著了，就請朋友鄰舍來，對他們說：我失落的那塊錢已經找著了，你們和我一同歡喜罷！
10我告訴你們，一個罪人悔改，在神的使者面前也是這樣為他歡喜。」
信息分享
耶穌基督是一個講故事的高手。我們在這章經文就讀到三個廣為人知的簡短故事。耶穌講這三個故事，除了說明神何等愛護和疼惜我們每個人外，還用來回應針對祂的法利賽人。他們批評耶穌的生活方式，經常與罪人為伍。
第一個是失羊的故事（4至7節）。牧羊人走失了一隻羊。羊不懂得停下來思考，牠看見前面有一條狹小的路，便逕自走去，完全不察覺有任何危險。走迷的羊很快便失去牧羊人和羊圈的安全保護，當牠發覺自己身處險境時，只能無助地悲鳴，無法自行找到回頭的路。
然而，這隻愚蠢的迷羊，卻觸動了牧羊人的愛心。他離開羊群，親自出去尋找這隻迷羊。神正是這樣尋找失喪的人。祂想盡辦法尋找失喪的罪人，呼喚他們回到祂的身邊。我們的神就是這位尋羊的牧人，當祂尋回罪人，引領他回轉，回到祂的家，祂就歡喜快樂。
第二個是丟錢的故事（8至10節）。物主怎麼丟錢的呢？因為一時大意？迷羊會失去安全的保護；丟失的錢會失去應有的用處，不能再對主人作出任何貢獻。因此，物主不單失去一塊銅板，而是失去所有可用那塊錢購買的物品。
物主跟牧羊人一樣，同樣為丟錢而心急如焚，小心搜尋每個地方，直至找到為止。那一刻，便為得回那塊錢所有的價值而歡喜快樂。
我們在這裡看見聖靈的工作。祂永不言倦地四出尋找失喪的罪人。聖靈會向他們說話，叫他們知罪並認識自己的光景，以及知道自己需要一位救主。
當罪人願意聆聽祂的話語，悔改回轉，歸入神的家，聖靈就會與眾天使一同歡喜快樂。此刻你是在甚麼光景呢？
GREAT WORDS OF THE GOSPEL THE SADDEST WORD - LOST
Luke 15: 1-10
1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Message
Jesus Christ was the master story-teller. Here in this chapter are three of his best-known short stories. They were told to illustrate how much God loves and misses every individual soul. They were also told for those who criticised his life-style, particularly the Pharisees. They resented him spending so much time with 'sinners'.
The first story is about a lost sheep (verses 4-7). One of the shepherd's flock had wandered away. A sheep doesn't stop to think. It sees a gap or an opening and wanders on unconscious of any danger. Soon it is lost to the safety of the flock and the fold. When it realises its position, it can only bleat helplessly and can never find its way back.
But this foolish lost sheep called out the love of the shepherd. He left the other sheep and went to find the lost one. God does the same. How many ways does He use to seek out the lost sinners and call them back to Himself? He is the seeking shepherd who rejoices when a lost sinner repents and joins God's family.
The second story tells of a lost coin (verses 8-10). How was it lost? By carelessness? The sheep was lost to safety. The coin was lost to service. It could not be used while it was lost. It could make no contribution to the home. It was not merely a piece of metal lost, but all the good it could do was lost too.
Again there was someone who felt the loss keenly. The woman searched, swept, looked until she found it, and restored it rejoicingly to its rightful place.
Here is a picture of the Holy Spirit. He works tirelessly searching, seeking for lost sinners who are lost to God. The Holy Spirit speaks to them, hoping to convict them of their sin, their position and their need of a Saviour.
How He rejoices (and all the angels join with Him) when a sinner listens to His voice and is saved and comes into the family of God! Where are you today?