CRAZY LOVE OF GOD

Luke 15: 1-32 (Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son)

These three stories are really portraits of God.

They tell us about God’s love.

First, God’s love is crazy love.

When you really pay attention to these stories you realize that they are outlandish. No good shepherd would just leave 99 sheep like that. That’s irresponsible. Anything could happen to those 99. It’s crazy. 

No woman would find a coin and then turn around and probably spend more than the coin is worth to throw a party. It doesn’t make sense. It’s crazy.

No self-respecting father of an ancient middle-eastern family would run after a child who had disowned him. According to the law this son should have been beaten and sent away forever.  

This father runs after him, doesn’t demand confession, he just throws a huge party. That’s crazy. No body would do that. Would they?

Jesus looks at his accusers and says, “Of course I eat with sinners. God is crazy about sinners.”

Second, God’s love is not fair.

The father looks at the “good” son and says, “I love you. I have always loved you. You have access to my estate all the time. Does that mean I have to love this son any less? This is my son. How can I do any less than to love him.” 

It is easy to fall into the trap of the “good” son.

It is easy to think that God’s love for us is dependent upon our ability to be good, to do the right thing.

When we think that way we start playing the comparison game. I have a definition of what God wants and it fits into this box. Now everything and everyone is compared to the box. You are either in it or you are out.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law had a very specific box, and Jesus was going outside of the box and loving “those people.”

Here’s the challenge for us today, as we travel along this road with Jesus. Who are “those” people for you? 

Try a simple experiment this week. When you see someone that would typically fall into one of your negative labels. Try to imagine yourself as God running like a crazy person toward them and saying, “Let’s throw a party.” I wonder how things would change if we all saw each other like that?