Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
April 24, 2022
Read Matthew 18:10, 12-14
10 “Be careful that you don’t look down on one of these little ones. I say to you that their angels in heaven are always looking into the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If someone had one hundred sheep and one of them wandered off, wouldn’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides and go in search for the one that wandered off? 13 If he finds it, I assure you that he is happier about having that one sheep than about the ninety-nine who didn’t wander off. 14 In the same way, my Father who is in heaven doesn’t want to lose one of these little ones.
Good Morning, We are all precious in the sight of our Lord.
I have noticed that the busier our lives are the more chances that we have to become lost. First of all, when we are busy with many things, we have multiple focal points that we are trying to reach. It takes so much energy and attention to manage these important things (things we’ve deemed important) that it is easy to lose sight or miss a turn along the way.
I remember times in my life when I was driving along, following the safety protocol, but I was busy reviewing or planning something in my mind. The next thing I know, I have missed a turn or I arrive at the wrong place. One school year I was teaching at three different schools that were a little far from my home. As I drove, I’m sure I was thinking about the day’s schedule and the lessons that I had prepared.
I arrived safely in the parking lot of the school, got out, gathered my things, and began walking up the sidewalk. Suddenly, I looked up at the building I was approaching and realized that I was at the wrong school. Now in my defense, two of my schools were in the same direction and on the same main road, I simply arrived at the first one along the path.
I returned to my car embarrassed by my mistake and continued on to the correct school.
On that occasion, I knew where I was, but it wasn’t where I needed to be. Maybe you have had similar experiences when you miss a turn or make a wrong turn. In our faith journey, this type of wandering from the path is easily remedied. Sometimes when we wander, one turn grows into another and another until we are hopelessly lost. In these moments we know that we are lost, and we want to be found. Christ looks for all who are lost.
Sometimes evil disguised as opportunity deceives us. We take off in a new direction and are seduced by the promise of the good life. In these times, we may not even realize that we are lost. All is wonderful until we find ourselves in a situation that we could never have imagined and we are filled with utter despair. Christ will never desert us. He will come looking for us and call to us. He will not stop looking until we are found.
Thanks to our gracious Lord. I once was lost, but now I am found.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. Even when we try to follow your path, we become lost at times. Thank you for looking for us no matter what our sins are. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God will help me through any difficulty I face.
Praise God! Pastor Liz
Comments