Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
November 20, 2021
Read Luke 15:8-10
8 “Or what woman, if she owns ten silver coins and loses one of them, won’t light a lamp and sweep the house, searching her home carefully until she finds it? 9 When she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me because I’ve found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, joy breaks out in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who changes both heart and life.”
Good Morning! Rejoice in the Lord, Your God!
Thank you, God, for the crunchy grass this morning. Brrrr! As I sit in the warmth of my living room, I gaze at God’s glory through the front window. When I read this morning’s passage, I thought about things that I have lost. Of course, that list is an endless reminder of so many things. What I have realized from these experiences, is that I have a much better chance of finding something that is lost when I search for it as soon as I discover that it is missing. Otherwise, I can’t put together the progression that might lead to rediscovering the lost item.
When searching, I systematically go from place to place, room to room, or drawer to drawer looking in the most likely places. Depending upon the value of the lost item, this search can sometimes be frantic. After I exhaust all of those possibilities, I sometimes revisit some of the same places because I know that it has to be there. I can visualize handling or seeing the missing object. Funny thing: The old adage is true, we find things in the last place that we look. Ha! Ha! As I type this morning, I can feel the joy and relief when that lost item is found.
As I consider how this story relates to our lives as Christians, I think of Jesus searching for lost souls, and Jesus looking for me when I wander away. I see him checking in all of the normal places to which I might roam. When he doesn’t find me, he doubles back on his path and looks again. The longer that I am missing, the more frantic the search becomes. Jesus will never stop looking until I am found. I once was lost, but now am found. Praise be to God!
Let’s consider the flip side to this search. Are we as diligent in searching for Jesus as he is for us? One way we are called to search for Jesus is to gather in lost souls. Do we frantically search for those who are lost as Jesus does, or do we assume that they will find their own way to Christ? Are we able to sustain our faith for the long haul? We must gather all who are lost, so that we can join together at the heavenly banquet table. When we all see Jesus, what a day of rejoicing that will be. We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. May we search for lost souls as Jesus has taught us to do. We must not rest until all are found. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Today I will search for Jesus as urgently as he seeks me.
Sing with joy! Pastor Liz
Comments