I Once Was Lost, but Now Am Found

READ: Ezekiel 34:11-16

I spent seven years as a lost sheep. Separated from the flock of the Lord’s people and from the Good Shepherd himself, I wandered through life alone. I was very self-reliant then. Proud too. I pushed people away, refused help, and tried to make it on my own. I failed miserably.

When my Shepherd found me, I was deeply broken. I had no friends. I had wounded my family through years of rebellion and separation. I was dissatisfied with every worldly treasure. My life felt meaningless, and I had little hope for the future.

“I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy,” promises the Lord. (Ezekiel 34:16)

I used to think I was sleek and strong -- I was doomed to destruction. But when I encountered the Good Shepherd, I realized that I was weak and injured and that he wanted to heal me. All he needed was my submission.

The Good Shepherd changed my life. I have friends now. Real friends. Friends that accept me for who I am and genuinely care about me. My relationship with my family is being restored. I am filled with hope and satisfied with the provisions the Good Shepherd makes for me each day.

Sometimes I still wander … drift away on the path of pride or self-reliance or solitude. But the Good Shepherd chases me, catches me, and carries me back home, to the good pasture of life with his people, life in his care. He is true to who he says he is and what he says he will do. As it is written in Proverbs (and quoted in 1 Peter and James), “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Alive in Christ

When I think back to the years before I came to know Christ in a meaningful way, I shudder at my behavior and my habits. I knew Christ from an early age, but He did not matter to me. My actions testified to that fact. Not only was I not very nice to be around, I didn't even like myself.

I often wondered why I was ever born, what possible purpose was there for me in this world? Have you had these feelings?

The thing is, once I had a desire to change and felt like I really needed to change, it was as if God heard my heart.  I know I didn't pray and ask Him to do anything, but He did it anyway.  Perhaps He looked back over my life and declared it was time; that I was ready for Him to intercede. I also know that I had a grandmother who was praying for me. This fact, which I recognized after she left this world, probably is the reason God grabbed me by the hand and showed me how to turn around.!!

He truly is a Life Changing King!

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)
 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 

How do these words make you feel? I get very excited when I read them and understand they were meant for me.  Even while I was dead from the sin in my life, God made me alive with Christ.  As I stated above, it wasn't any prayer I uttered, but it was totally by God's grace I was changed, I was saved.

Do you have a salvation story to share?  We are supposed to share our story with one another - tell the Good News to the world, shout it even!

Read Ephesians 2:1-10

Christ the Only Savior

Colossians 1:15-23

John Newton, who lived from 1725 - 1807, said when he was 82 years old, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great savior."

Newton wrote the powerful hymn Amazing Grace that we still sing today.  As many of you know, Newton captained a slave ship. Once during a violent storm as his ship was homeward bound, he feared for his life and found himself praying to a God he didn't know he believed in:  "Lord, have mercy upon us."  His ship was spared, and he began to believe that God had spoken to him through the storm.

Newton didn't immediately abandon the lucrative slave trade, but God worked in his heart, and he gave up seafaring forever several, years later.  During that time, he studied Latin, Hebrew and Greek, and eventually became a minister.  So many people wanted to hear him preach that they had to enlarge his church.  He was a strong influence on William Wilberforce, who led the British government to abolish slavery.

Take a look at today's passage, and read these words in the light of Newton's life:  "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight without blemish, and free  from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel." (vs. 21-23). 

God redeemed the life of a slave trader!  Good news!  He used John Newton mightily for his kingdom. What is God doing in your life, in my life?

Verses 15-20 set the stage for the verses that follow, and we need to soak in the truth that "He is the image of the invisible God.....For by him all things were created.....He is before all things....He is the head of the body, the church."  And then take up the challenge to 'continue in your faith, established and firm.'  God longs to bless you so that you can bless others.  John Newton's example can inspire us as well - yes, he saved a 'wretch like me,' and he continues to this day to call his people to himself.

Lord, you are in the business of saving souls.  You saved a slave trader, and you saved me.  Thanks be to God.  Help me to shine your light so that others can see and give you thanks and praise.

Amen!

The Story - Chapter 26 - The Hour of Darkness

Jesus' omniscience is revealed in these words selected for today.

Matthew 26:31 (NIV)
Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'"

God knows everything, as does Jesus. There is no hiding the past, there is even no hiding the future from Him. Jesus knew His men would desert Him and He loved them still.

Jesus knew we would sin and deny him with our sin long before we were ever conceived, but still He brought us into this world. God can and will use us just like we are. Jesus will put us in situation we can serve Him and draw others to Him, even in our sinfulness.

Jesus knew that Peter would deny him three times. This was perhaps Peter's gravest sin - yet Jesus loved and forgave Him. Think about your darkest moment. Jesus has it covered by His Amazing Grace.

Note: I am going to keep it short and to the point this week so we can consider one thought and see where God leads
Read Matthew 26:36-46 here

Listen to Matthew 26:36-46 here