Found
Found: God’s Invitation to the Feast of Grace
How do you know when you’re lost?
Isn’t not knowing that you’re lost the very definition of being lost? And when you finally realize it—that’s the first step to being found.
I remember one Christmas Eve, years ago, driving through the night after church. Around 2:00 a.m., with Suz asleep beside me, I suddenly realized I had no idea where I was. Not the road, not the state, nothing. Eventually, I pulled into a gas station and noticed all the mugs and magnets for Kansas. Kansas? We were supposed to be in Nebraska. I had taken the wrong highway and ended up hours off track.
Being lost is a disorienting feeling. But it’s also the perfect doorway into Jesus’ teaching in Luke 15.
Three Stories of Lostness
The parable of the prodigal son is actually the third in a set of stories Jesus tells about being lost and found.
A shepherd leaves 99 sheep to find one lost sheep. When he finds it, he rejoices and calls his friends to celebrate.
A woman loses one of her 10 coins. She searches the house until she finds it, then calls her friends to celebrate.
A father has two sons. The younger runs away, squanders everything, and finally comes home. The father welcomes him with open arms and throws a feast.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He introduces the older brother, who refuses to join the party, standing outside in protest. And that’s where the story ends—unfinished.
Lost in Rebellion, Lost in Religion
The younger son’s lostness is obvious. His rebellion takes him far from home, but eventually he realizes his mistake, repents, and returns.
The older brother, though, never realizes he’s lost. On the outside, he looks like the good son—hardworking, obedient, moral. But on the inside, pride blinds him. His religion has become self-reliance.
That’s more dangerous, because there’s no “pig pen moment” for the older brother. No crisis to wake him up. Just quiet arrogance keeping him outside the father’s joy.
“I’ve done everything right. Doesn’t that earn me something?”
That’s elder brother lostness.
The Invitation to the Feast
For years, I thought the goal was to be one of the 99 safe sheep. Keep my nose clean, do good things, earn God’s favor. But Jesus shows us that this, too, can be lostness—living as if we don’t need grace.
The truth is, God’s feast is already set. His love is already offered. And it’s not based on what we’ve earned. It’s a belonging that simply is.
Too often we stand outside saying:
“I’m not worthy yet.”
“I haven’t earned it.”
“I’ll deserve something better later.”
But God’s invitation is now. The feast is now.
Will You Come In?
So, are you lost today? Maybe in rebellion. Maybe in pride or self-reliance. Either way, the Father is inviting you to the table—not because you earned it, but because you are loved.
The only question is: Will you stay outside, or will you come in?
May you be found feasting at the Father’s table, safe and secure in Christ. There’s a seat with your name on it.
