Motivated by His Love

This powerful message takes us deep into Luke 15, where Jesus uses three interconnected metaphors to reveal how God sees those who are far from Him and what our response as the church should be. We discover that people without Christ are like lost sheep—lacking spiritual insight and strength, unable to navigate life's spiritual terrain on their own. They're like lost coins—missing their God-given purpose, unable to fulfill what they were created for. And they're like the prodigal son—lacking true fulfillment, searching for satisfaction in all the wrong places. What's remarkable is how these three stories don't just describe the lost condition; they reveal the very nature of the Trinity. Jesus is the seeking shepherd who races into dangerous territory to rescue us. The Holy Spirit is like the woman with the lamp, illuminating truth and revealing sin so we can find our way home. And the Father is the one who runs toward us with open arms, restoring us to full sonship regardless of our past. This isn't about cleaning ourselves up before approaching God—it's about recognizing that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The challenge for us as believers is clear: we're called to rescue, reveal truth in love, and receive others with grace. We cannot expect unbelievers to act like believers until they become believers. Our job isn't to push people away with judgment but to draw them in with the same grace we've received.