在商界，成本效益分析牵涉到权衡一次商业活动的总体花费，以期获得最高利益。考虑到找回一只迷羊涉及的所有花费，难道耶稣比喻中的牧羊人不应该放弃寻找以减少损失，并投入更多到其它九十九只羊身上吗？
很明显，成本效益分析不会在照看羊群的事上被使用。在那些日子，每一只羊对牧羊人都很宝贵。一个好牧人一定会撇下其它九十九只，竭力寻找丢失的那只。救回那只可怜的羊，牧羊人会高兴地把它扛在肩上带回家，并招聚亲朋好友一起来庆祝。
在这个迷羊的比喻中，改教家们重新发现了一个属灵真理：神不会放弃那些偏离正道的人。不，祂会在那些迷失的人还在罪中徘徊、直奔向毁灭之路时去寻找他们。
正如迷失的羊自己找不到回家的路，罪人也同样不能。神亲自来寻找我们，因为我们完全无助无望，而祂满有恩典和怜悯。
我们应该如何回应这奇妙的爱呢？让我们完全献上自己，归给救我们脱离罪和死的那一位。
主啊，祢是如此爱我们，以致亲自来寻找我们。祢的恩典如何寻回我，愿我也以同样的方式向周围的人分享祢的恩典。奉祢的名祷告，阿们。
路加福音 15:1-7
1众税吏和罪人都挨近耶稣，要听他讲道。
2法利赛人和文士私下议论说：“这个人接待罪人，又同他们吃饭。”
3耶稣就用比喻说：
4“你们中间谁有一百只羊失去一只，不把这九十九只撇在旷野、去找那失去的羊，直到找着呢？
5找着了，就欢欢喜喜地扛在肩上，回到家里，
6就请朋友邻舍来，对他们说：‘我失去的羊已经找着了，你们和我一同欢喜吧！’
7我告诉你们，一个罪人悔改，在天上也要这样为他欢喜，较比为九十九个不用悔改的义人欢喜更大。”
"Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep." — Luke 15:6
In business, a cost/benefit analysis involves weighing the overall costs of a commercial activity to achieve the highest profit. With all of the cost involved in retrieving his one lost sheep, shouldn't the shepherd in Jesus' parable have just cut his losses and moved on with the other ninety-nine?
Apparently cost/benefit analysis wasn't used in tending sheep. In those days every single sheep was precious to the shepherd. A good shepherd would leave the other 99 to make a desperate search for one missing sheep. And in rescuing that one pathetic sheep, the shepherd would joyfully sling it over his shoulders to carry it home, gathering family and friends to celebrate when he got there.
In this parable of the lost sheep, the Reformers rediscovered a deep spiritual truth: God doesn't cut his losses on those who have gone astray. No, he goes after the lost when they are wandering in their sins, heading straight down the path toward destruction.
Just like lost sheep who can't find their way home, neither can sinners. God comes looking for us because we are helpless and hopeless, and because he is full of grace and mercy.
How should we respond to such amazing love? By giving ourselves completely to the one who has rescued us from sin and death.
Lord, you love me so much that you came looking for me. In the same way that your grace has found me, let me share your grace with those around me. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
