The Lost
Psalm 51:1-10 and Luke 15:1-7
14th Sunday after Pentecost
September 14, 2025
By Pastor Jane Shelton
Having just returned from traveling with our Flint River Presbytery group, it is obvious the importance for making sure everyone is accounted for by a group leader.
Not only was he counting heads, but so were many of us in the group, as no one wanted to leave anyone behind. No one wanted to deal with the “hunt” for the lost person or persons which can take hours off your fun vacation time.
When someone is lost, there are many emotions experienced as a group. Fear of their safety, anger that they didn’t pay attention to the rules of where to be or frustration in not knowing where they are and where the search should begin. Anxiety is shared among those who are not lost.
These same emotions are also experienced by the lost. Fear and anxiety that they have been separated from the group. Frustration in not knowing how they will reconnect or if they will reconnect with the group, and what to do if they don’t, especially when they find themselves in a strange, unfamiliar land.
When I consider the picture on the front of the bulletin, it reminds me of someone who finds themselves with their back against a wall, or maybe you’re more familiar with the term, “out on a limb.” We’ve most likely all been there at some point in our lives.
This image of the lamb out on the edge, up against a hard, cold rock wall that can’t be moved, can be difficult to observe as we find ourselves experiencing some of the emotions previously mentioned. Fear, anxiety, and frustration.
As the lamb finds itself out on the edge with what seems like no place to turn, it might be reflecting on all the decisions and actions that caused it to walk out to this spot and be in this difficult position. Perhaps its reflecting on transgressions on not being responsible to stay with the flock and follow the rules.
The Psalmist points out that we are born guilty as humans, yet we desire the truth. Finding the truth, however, often takes time and energy that we are not willing to invest, until we find ourselves lost and alone.
When the Psalmist says, “Hide your face from my sins,” it is wishful thinking as God sees everything that we do, good and bad.
I have thought a lot about this phrase, “Hide your face from my sins,” and realized how blessed we are that our transgressions cannot be hidden from the face of God.
First, knowing this helps keep us accountable to the image of God in which we are made; and second, reminds us that God is forgiving and wants a relationship with us. It reminds us of God’s mercy and grace.
Like Adam and Eve in the garden, God was watching over them.
When we find ourselves out on the edge with our backs against the wall with no place to turn, going back doesn’t seem logical, and going forward is too painful, we call out to our Lord, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”
Without that call, we have no place to go. Yet, as we discussed a few Sundays back, the Word of Fire is there to cleanse us, and to purify us so that we can begin again.
Once we have been cleansed, and we have a new heart and a new and right spirit, we can find the path to move forward, because God will lead us to that right path.
It’s fascinating to me that tax collectors and sinners were coming to listen to Jesus, because all too often when we sin, we walk the other way. We turn from the truth because it is too painful to face our actions, yet we are all sinners looking for the truth that frees us from our fear, anxiety, anger and pain. Jesus is that truth. Jesus is the answer that frees us of all pain.
The people, the sinners were looking for a better path forward. One that did not include being lost in the wilderness.
We know all too well the grumblings of the Pharisees. There are always those who are the naysayers. The ones waiting for you to fail. The ones that find it necessary to put you down in order to make themselves feel more important or more justified in their actions. The ones that didn’t understand how Jesus could have the power to reach so many people in need. They couldn’t begin to grasp how Jesus could know the lost.
Many are still unaware that Jesus is the light in the darkness and continue to wander in the wilderness of chaos in this world.
Jesus seeks out the lost and nurtures them back to a healthy place. He rescues those from the side of the cliff that have no place to go because they believe their transgressions are too egregious to return home. Yet, Jesus knows what the lost do not know. We are all sinners looking for our way home. Some of us just wander a little further away from the flock.
When Jesus finds the lost, he nurtures them, he cleanses them with forgiveness and lifts them up to rest upon his shoulders. Jesus carries the load and walks us back to a safe place.
And when we arrive back to that safe place with the group, there is rejoicing. In fact, we are called to rejoice as Jesus says upon his return, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.”
The next two parables in Luke are the woman with the lost coin and the prodigal son. Both parables end with rejoicing. Rejoicing when the lost are found and returned safely.
The beautiful message of these parables are not only an invitation to rejoice with God when sinners repent, but a beautiful reminder that like Jesus, we are called to search for the lost.
Following Jesus’ example, we search for them, we embrace them, and then we lift them up from the mire and help them get their foot on the right path.
As the church, we are called to be a place of rest from the chaotic and often horrific world outside, and yet we often run from that responsibility. Yes, people must take responsibility for their own actions and make choices that commit themselves to truly being cleansed by the Word of Fire, but without the seeking, embracing and lifting up on our part, often the lost are left to wander in the wilderness.
We all will become lost at some point in our lives; however, it is important that we do not despair. It is important that we don’t allow ourselves to get wrapped up in worries and fears because our God is searching for us always. Our God is waiting to find us in our wandering, lift us up and put a right spirit within us so that we can rejoice in our relationship with all in God’s kingdom.
The message from Jesus is that we be the bridge of hope rather than respond with anger, fear, anxiety, and isolation.
Let us not become like the Pharisees who sneered and complained at Jesus when he talked to and ate with the sinners, rather let us be like Jesus bringing hope and a new path for those who are lost. Then, being cleansed with a pure heart, the lost can regain their footing and begin a new life in the presence of our Lord with all of us rejoicing another valuable soul found and restored.
To God be the glory!