Series: Luke – The Lord’s Favor Has Come Lk 路 15 Lost and Found 失而復得

Lovesick, Homesick

Lovesick, Homesick: Only the loved one we are lovesick for and the home we are homesick for will bring total satisfaction and total joy.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Gen 創 1:31a God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. 神 看 著 一 切 所 造 的 都 甚 好 。

Gen 創 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 於 是 女 人 見 那 棵 樹 的 果 子 好 作 食 物 ， 也 悅 人 的 眼 目 ， 且 是 可 喜 愛 的 ， 能 使 人 有 智 慧 ， 就 摘 下 果 子 來 吃 了 ， 又 給 他 丈 夫 ， 他 丈 夫 也 吃 了 。

Lovesick, Homesick: Jesus tells us the good news: We need not be lovesick and homesick forever. God wants us back home.

God Wants Us Back Home

God Wants Us Back Home: Yes, we who wrecked the beauty of creation by our rebellion, Yes, we who broke the bond of love with God by our pride, God says to us, “Let Me bring you back. Come back. Here with me is where you really belong.”

Lk 路 15

我 告 訴 你 們 ， 一 個 罪 人 悔 改 ， 在 天 上 也 要 這 樣 為 他 歡 喜 Lk 路 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents 我 告 訴 你 們 ， 一 個 罪 人 悔 改 ， 在 天 上 也 要 這 樣 為 他 歡 喜

Lk 路 15:31-32 31 “My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” 31 父 親 對 他 說 ： 兒 阿 ！ 你 常 和 我 同 在 ， 我 一 切 所 有 的 都 是 你 的 ；32 只 是 你 這 個 兄 弟 是 死 而 復 活 、 失 而 又 得 的 ， 所 以 我 們 理 當 歡 喜 快 樂 。

7 我 告 訴 你 們 ， 一 個 罪 人 悔 改 ， 在 天 上 也 要 這 樣 為 他 歡 喜 Lk 路 15:7, 10 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents 7 我 告 訴 你 們 ， 一 個 罪 人 悔 改 ， 在 天 上 也 要 這 樣 為 他 歡 喜

7 我 告 訴 你 們 ， 一 個 罪 人 悔 改 ， 在 天 上 也 要 這 樣 為 他 歡 喜… Lk 路 15:7, 10 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents… 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. 7 我 告 訴 你 們 ， 一 個 罪 人 悔 改 ， 在 天 上 也 要 這 樣 為 他 歡 喜… 10 我 告 訴 你 們 ， 一 個 罪 人 悔 改 ， 在 神 的 使 者 面 前 也 是 這 樣 為 他 歡 喜 。

God Wants Us Back Home: Your belongingness was with God, and should be with God. In fact, you are now lost only because you are no longer with whom you belong.

God Wants Us Back Home: 1/ God actively SEEKS to bring us home.

God Wants Us Back Home: 1/ God actively SEEKS to bring us home. 2/ God eagerly WAITS for us to be on our way home to usher us back home.

He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Lk 路 15:20 He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 跑 去 抱 著 他 的 頸 項 ， 連 連 與 他 親 嘴。

Lk 路 15:22-23 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 22 父 親 卻 吩 咐 僕 人 說 ： 把 那 上 好 的 袍 子 快 拿 出 來 給 他 穿 ； 把 戒 指 戴 在 他 指 頭 上 ； 把 鞋 穿 在 他 腳 上 ；23 把 那 肥 牛 犢 牽 來 宰 了 ， 我 們 可 以 吃 喝 快 樂。

God Wants Us Back Home: By all his gestures of acceptance, the father declares to the son: “Son, I forgive you.

God Wants Us Back Home: By all his gestures of acceptance, the father declares to the son: “Son, I forgive you. You may think you are no longer worthy to be called my son, but my thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways.

God Wants Us Back Home: By all his gestures of acceptance, the father declares to the son: “Son, I forgive you. You may think you are no longer worthy to be called my son, but my thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways. Know well that you are still my son.

God Wants Us Back Home: By all his gestures of acceptance, the father declares to the son: “Son, I forgive you. You may think you are no longer worthy to be called my son, but my thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways. Know well that you are still my son. Welcome home, my child.”

God Wants Us Back Home: The father eagerly goes to meet his wayward child at where he was

God Wants Us Back Home: The father eagerly goes to meet his wayward child at where he was BUT the father will not leave him at where he was; he enthusiastically transforms the wayward child—his child—into who he is always meant to be—the homeward bound young sir of the family.

Are We Home?

Are We Home?: We are home when we desire to honor God with our lives; we want God to be praised.

Are We Home?: We are home when we want others to also be in His presence—to taste His goodness to them, to rejoice in His love for them.

Are We Home?: (Critically) We are home when we are affectionate toward God who loves us.

Are We Home?: (Critically) We are home when we are affectionate toward God who loves us. The battle of our faith is the battle for our utmost, committed affection for God.

Rom 羅 8:31-32 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 31 既 是 這 樣 ， 還 有 甚 麼 說 的 呢 ？ 神 若 幫 助 我 們 ， 誰 能 敵 擋 我 們 呢 ？32 神 既 不 愛 惜 自 己 的 兒 子 ， 為 我 們 眾 人 捨 了 ， 豈 不 也 把 萬 物 和 他 一 同 白 白 的 賜 給 我 們 麼 ？

Are We Home?: Stay home, and affectionately so toward God, if we already trust in Jesus.

Are We Home?: Stay home, and affectionately so toward God, if we already trust in Jesus. Come home, if you are living in the distant country.

~ St. Augustine You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.

The God-centering message of Lk 15: We rejoice when we and others are at home with God, and affectionately so. 當我們和他人帶著熱情同在神的家中時，我們必然歡慶。

Selah (Holy Communion): ___Are you home begrudgingly or affectionately? ___Ask for wisdom to see through the lie of the distant country (drain, enslavement) and to see in full the abundance of God’s home (provision, welcome); ask for the courage to do what honors God.