當孩子走失時 (卓爾君牧師)
對父母而言，最恐怖的事莫過於孩子走失了。當孩子走失時，我們會不計代價、盡全力去尋找那失去的孩子。當耶穌基督來到世上尋找祂失去的孩子，即使這個孩子不知道他自己迷路了，甚至不在乎，但是耶穌仍然被釘死在十字架上，為要尋找並拯救那迷失的靈魂，關於這點，聖經中有三個比喻：
1. 迷失的綿羊及他的牧羊人
2. 丟失的硬幣及尋找它的女人
3. 迷失的孩子及愛他的父親
每個人都希望回到主的家，因為這個世界只是我們暫時停留的地方，所以不要迷失在這個暫時虛假的地方，神就有如那位牧羊人及慈愛的父親般，正在尋找你、呼喚你，期盼你回到祂的家中，所以現在就開始預備你自己吧，為回到那永恆的家做準備。
- 眾稅吏和罪人都挨近耶穌，要聽他講道。
- 法利賽人和文士私下議論說：”這個人接待罪人，又同他們吃飯。”
- 耶穌就用比喻說：
- “你們中間誰有一百隻羊失去一隻，不把這九十九隻撇在曠野，去找那失去的羊，直到找著呢？
- 找著了，就歡歡喜喜地扛在肩上，回到家裡，
- 就請朋友鄰舍來，對他們說：’我失去的羊已經找著了，你們和我一同歡喜吧！’
- 我告訴你們：一個罪人悔改，在天上也要這樣為他歡喜，較比為九十九個不用悔改的義人歡喜更大。
- 或是一個婦人有十塊錢，若失落一塊，豈不點上燈，打掃屋子，細細地找，直到找著嗎？
- 找著了，就請朋友鄰舍來，對他們說：’我失落的那塊錢已經找著了，你們和我一同歡喜吧！’
- 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。”
- 耶穌又說：”一個人有兩個兒子。
- 小兒子對父親說：’父親，請你把我應得的家業分給我。’他父親就把產業分給他們。
- 過了不多幾日，小兒子就把他一切所有的都收拾起來，往遠方去了。在那裡任意放蕩，浪費資財。
- 既耗盡了一切所有的，又遇著那地方大遭饑荒，就窮苦起來。
- 於是去投靠那地方的一個人，那人打發他到田裡去放豬。
- 他恨不得拿豬所吃的豆莢充飢，也沒有人給他。
- 他醒悟過來，就說：’我父親有多少的雇工，口糧有餘，我倒在這裡餓死嗎？
- 我要起來，到我父親那裡去，向他說：父親！我得罪了天，又得罪了你；
- 從今以後，我不配稱為你的兒子，把我當作一個雇工吧！’
- 於是起來，往他父親那裡去。相離還遠，他父親看見，就動了慈心，跑去抱著他的頸項，連連與他親嘴。
- 兒子說：’父親！我得罪了天，又得罪了你；從今以後，我不配稱為你的兒子。’
- 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，
- 把那肥牛犢牽來宰了，我們可以吃喝快樂。
- 因為我這個兒子是死而復活，失而又得的。’他們就快樂起來。
- 那時，大兒子正在田裡。他回來，離家不遠，聽見作樂跳舞的聲音，
- 便叫過一個僕人來，問是甚麼事。
- 僕人說：’你兄弟來了。你父親因為得他無災無病地回來，把肥牛犢宰了！’
- 大兒子卻生氣，不肯進去。他父親就出來勸他。
- 他對父親說：’我服事你這多年，從來沒有違背過你的命，你並沒有給我一隻山羊羔，叫我和朋友一同快樂。
- 但你這個兒子和娼妓吞盡了你的產業，他一來了，你倒為他宰了肥牛犢。’
- 父親對他說：’兒啊！你常和我同在，我一切所有的都是你的；
- 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。 ‘”
- Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Lost Son11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
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. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
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.’”