The dead are alive and the lost are found!
By Pastor Patrick Feldhus, TLHA Chaplain
Luke 15:32-But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’” (EHV)
“Amazing Grace” is one of the most well known and cherished Christian hymns. There is even a good chance that those who would not call themselves Christian would even recognize this hymn. The first verse really hits the high notes for us, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound-That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see.”
There is a connection to the parable of the Lost Son. The father of the parable showed his younger son amazing grace. After squandering his wealth in sinful wild living, the son had nothing. The father certainly did not owe him anything. Yet the father welcomed him back with open arms and without reservations. His son was lost in wild living, and now is found which connects to “Amazing Grace”.
This is the picture of our Heavenly Father’s amazing grace he has for each of us. We all have a sinful heart the loves to wallow in sinful wild living. We have a sinful nature that causes us to be lost. Even more, our sinful nature makes us spiritually dead to God. It is his amazing grace that finds us and brings us to life! He did this through the death of his perfect Son. Grace is not earned or deserved, but given! That is what we have through Jesus. Notice the reaction of the father and the servants, “But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad.” The holy ones in heaven rejoice and celebrate when a sinner is found and made alive through Christ.
Unfortunately, the older brother did not rejoice and his brother’s return. He was angry at the reckless grace of the father toward the younger brother. The older brother did not think his younger brother deserved forgiveness. We must watch out for this attitude in ourselves. There are times when we think there are people who do not deserve forgiveness. Once we lose the joy and celebration of God’s amazing grace for sinners, we lose the meaning of grace for ourselves. Rather than react like the older brother, the more we connect to the Father’s grace, the more we want to celebrate with the angels in heaven. The more we want to celebrate the dead coming to life and the lost being found!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your amazing grace that came and found us and brought us to life. Help us every day to celebrate your gracious forgiveness for ourselves and for other sinners. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.