Luke 15: 1-10 - The Kingdom is Like This

    One day, I was driving down the road and found myself lost in thought about what seems to be lacking in our society at times – compassion, tenderness, love for our neighbor.

       I was pondering all of this as I hit spot after spot of construction, until I found myself situated behind a large tracker trailer truck. Right in front of me was a large sticker on one of his back doors that read “We don’t do business or bring any comfort to the enemy.” Ironically right above this large sticker was a smaller one that said, “Jesus loves you.” 

     What a profound statement about something being lost – the heart of the entire gospel message. Love your neighbors, including your enemies, and love the Lord your God. This truck was claiming two different realities that couldn’t fit together – one was the message of Love, the heart of Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection. 

     Which was the problem the religious leaders found themselves having in this text as well. They were acting more like the gate keepers to the Kingdom then the servants of God. 

     What are the things we say and do that fail to proclaim God's message about saving the lost? How can our lives proclaim more and more what the Kingdom of God is like?