The Bible gives us a clear description on how god loves us. We consider 3 parables that Jesus Christ told his disciples. In the New Testament, Evangelist Luke in 15th chapter writes the parables of the Lost sheep, the Lost coin and finally the Lost son. These 3 parables ends with describing the joy after finding out the lost things. Let us consider these 3 parables in detail.
Parable of the Lost Sheep
A man had 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost. In fact the lost sheep had escaped from his shepherd, in search of green grass and better food. The sheep was ignorant. It thinks that it would get fine grass once it is away from shepherd. It forgets how the shepherd loved it and gave it food and water. It wandered here and there and lost it way and finally got inside thorny weeds. Its body got wounded and it was trapped inside the thorns. The shepherd searches for it until it is found. And he joyfully carries it home on his shoulders.
This parable assumes the lost sheep as ignorant people. Without understanding the love of God, these people wanders and finally gets into trouble. God searches for them until he finds them. And god joyfully carries them back to home.
Parable of the Lost Coin
A woman had 10 silver coins and she loses one. She lights a lamp and sweeps the entire house and searches for it until she finds it. The coin was lost because of less conciousness. The coin was left somewhere in the dust. The coin was full of dirt and she finds it only after lighting the lamp and sweeping the entire house. When she finds the coin she cleans it to make it like other coins. She becomes happy and calls her neighbours and celebrate the event.
This parable shows how distracted mind makes us go far from god. Here distraction implies that we are interested in worldly things and not in Gods words. When we are far from God, we lose what we have. The precious things that we had are lost because of this. These can be our family, relatives, friends or loved ones. If we are not concious we will never know that we are losing the souls of our loved ones. They may start living without any moral values and finally end up in destroying their souls. In the parable a woman loses her coin. She understands that its lost and lights the lamp and brooms everywhere. Here, Lamp is a simile of God. Without the lamp we cant find lost things. With the help of God we have to broom everywhere to find the lost souls. When we find them in dirt, clean them from dirt and dust (sins). Then only god becomes happy.
Parable of the Lost Son
A man had 2 sons. The younger son asked for his share and moved to a distant land carrying all his wealth. He wasted all his money in wild living. Then a famine came and he began to starve. A local farmer gave him the job of feeding pigs. He became so hungry that he wanted to eat the pods which was given to pigs. But no one gave him anything. Then he came into his senses and repented and wanted to go back to his father. And he returned home. While he was still a long way off his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion the father ran to his son and kissed him. The son confesses before father and father orders for a feast and rejoices as his lost son is back
Parable of the Lost Sheep
A man had 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost. In fact the lost sheep had escaped from his shepherd, in search of green grass and better food. The sheep was ignorant. It thinks that it would get fine grass once it is away from shepherd. It forgets how the shepherd loved it and gave it food and water. It wandered here and there and lost it way and finally got inside thorny weeds. Its body got wounded and it was trapped inside the thorns. The shepherd searches for it until it is found. And he joyfully carries it home on his shoulders.
This parable assumes the lost sheep as ignorant people. Without understanding the love of God, these people wanders and finally gets into trouble. God searches for them until he finds them. And god joyfully carries them back to home.
Parable of the Lost Coin
A woman had 10 silver coins and she loses one. She lights a lamp and sweeps the entire house and searches for it until she finds it. The coin was lost because of less conciousness. The coin was left somewhere in the dust. The coin was full of dirt and she finds it only after lighting the lamp and sweeping the entire house. When she finds the coin she cleans it to make it like other coins. She becomes happy and calls her neighbours and celebrate the event.
This parable shows how distracted mind makes us go far from god. Here distraction implies that we are interested in worldly things and not in Gods words. When we are far from God, we lose what we have. The precious things that we had are lost because of this. These can be our family, relatives, friends or loved ones. If we are not concious we will never know that we are losing the souls of our loved ones. They may start living without any moral values and finally end up in destroying their souls. In the parable a woman loses her coin. She understands that its lost and lights the lamp and brooms everywhere. Here, Lamp is a simile of God. Without the lamp we cant find lost things. With the help of God we have to broom everywhere to find the lost souls. When we find them in dirt, clean them from dirt and dust (sins). Then only god becomes happy.
Parable of the Lost Son
A man had 2 sons. The younger son asked for his share and moved to a distant land carrying all his wealth. He wasted all his money in wild living. Then a famine came and he began to starve. A local farmer gave him the job of feeding pigs. He became so hungry that he wanted to eat the pods which was given to pigs. But no one gave him anything. Then he came into his senses and repented and wanted to go back to his father. And he returned home. While he was still a long way off his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion the father ran to his son and kissed him. The son confesses before father and father orders for a feast and rejoices as his lost son is back
In all the 3 parables God becomes extremely happy when he finds out the lost people. Comparing with the other 2 parables the parable of the lost son has many specialities. In the other 2 parables God himself searches for the lost ones until they are found. Here the Father does not go for searching the son. Instead he waits patiently for the son's coming back. He waits for the son to repent. Everyday he looks for his son's coming. It is clear from the statement "And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming".
Our Father loves us deeply. He wants us to repent if we are in the wrong way. He patiently waits for us to come back to him. We all should continue in Christ's love.
Luke 15:7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
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