Jimbo's Jots

In the parenting class I teach, we’re going through Dr. Paul David Tripp’s Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family. With each principle discussed, Dr. Tripp pulls in the relationship we have with God. (DUH! I guess I didn’t need to tell you this!)

One principle he talks about is LOST pulling in Luke 15. As I have read through the chapter, I had my own sense of revelation. My “AHA!!” moment!!

First, take a moment and read Luke 15. Go ahead . . . I’ll wait. Got it?

Here is my take . . . the lost don’t realize they are lost. They don’t! Read it again! Never do you see a “purposed” display of lostness. The lost son? We’ll get to him in a bit.

The sheep that has wandered away is only following a path of greener grass. It’s not until the shepherd begins to count that he realizes one of his sheep has gone off somewhere. And so he searches!

With the lost coin, it’s not like the coin says to the other coins, “I’m going to play hide and seek!” In fact, as Dr. Tripp points out, the story is not even about the coin, but the woman who searches and then rejoices when the coin has been found.

The son – I told I would get to him – left on his own accord. Not because he said I want to be lost. He left because in his own mind, he thought there is a better life for me somewhere, but not here. The temptation of the “out there” led to his lostness.

In all of these stories, the lost were found. The shepherd searched for the lost sheep. The woman cleaned and searched until the coin was found. The father stood at the door looking and waiting for the son to come back.

Dr. Tripp points something else out . . . in all of the stories, especially the lost son, the lost have no way of saving self. Much like we are not able to save our self, God has given us grace, forgiveness, acceptance and patience in order to save us. The other thing is this . . . God never gives up on us!! Read through the stories again, all are lost UNTIL they are found. The seeker doesn’t give up the search! Once found, there is a great celebration!

So rejoice and celebrate! You were lost and now found!

Be blessed and be a blessing!