the Rev. Henry Huenemann
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:1).
Bible Reading
Luke 15:1-10:Devotional
"They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." "The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost." What is it to be lost? He is lost that is in a hopeless condition and no helper or deliverer at hand. Thus a child may be lost in the woods, or a ship at sea, or a man on the open prairie on a stormy night. So man is spiritually lost. He cannot save himself from sin and death. And there is no mere creature in all the universe that can save him. But God has provided a Saviour — Jesus. "He shall save his people from their sins." The Good Shepherd seeks his sheep till he finds it. The first thing the Saviour does, is to cause the sinner to realize his lost condition. Through the law of God He shows him the greatness of his sin and misery. Whether a man has lived in open sin, or has lived an outwardly moral life, when the law comes, he feels that he is utterly lost, without life and without God. And when he is in this condition, the grace of God takes him and brings him from death unto life. The lost has been found. The Good Shepherd carries his sheep home, and there is joy in heaven.
Prayer
Merciful God and Father. We thank Thee that Thou didst not leave us in our wretched and lost condition, but didst send Thy Son Jesus to seek and to save the lost. We cannot sufficiently thank Thee for Thine infinite mercy which Thou hast shown unto us in bringing us from darkness unto light, from death unto life, from utter wretchedness unto joy unspeakable and full of glory.
O Father, forgive us our coldness and indifference and unbelief. When we ought to rejoice, we doubt and fear and even murmur. Fill our hearts with a holy zeal and enthusiasm, that we cannot help but speak of the salvation of our God, that others through us may learn to know the way of salvation and with us praise Thy name, now and for ever. Amen.
Scripture in Devotional: Mark 2:17; Matt. 1:21; Luke 15:4, 7.
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