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.”

Jesus' Sacrifice is my Salvation

Having grown up in the Catholic church I was familiar with the concept of sacrifice. We talked about it in catechism class and even before then. Reading Bible stories and recognizing the sacrifice of many of the saints, I was motivated to practice this too. I am not sure if I was taught this, or if this is just where my mind went, but I began to practice 'giving up things' so that I might get something.

For instance, I was under the impression if I sacrificed enough, God would do something that I wanted Him to do. Like change my parents and/or change my life. Often it was even more simple situations. If I wanted to go to grandma's house (which was my respite), I was under the illusion God would make it happen if I gave up something, like a candy bar or dessert.

I had a totally unreal understanding of sacrifice the Bible speaks of. Sacrifice is only about giving up something, if that something is sin. Biblical sacrifice is all about confession and repentance then asking for forgiveness. Back in the day, God's people experienced forgiveness once a year, on the day of atonement. That had to have been one long year.

In my youth I viewed sacrifice as something I did to get something I wanted. Now, after years of struggle and self-examination and hours of clinging to the feet of Jesus, I understand that Jesus was the one who sacrificed - whose blood was shed. I am the recipient of His sacrifice. And I don't have to wait until the right day of the year to confess and beg forgiveness. Every minute of every day is a good time to confess and heal my brokenness.

Hebrews 10:1-10

Sunday

But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. (Romans 8:10-11)

A Christian has the luxury of viewing death in a different light than someone who does not believe. Because of our faith, we know that physical death is actually a rebirth into a new life. I am not diminishing the grief which accompanies the death of someone we love, but the fact is that this death is the beginning of something great - not the end.

My husband and I spoke of this often during his brief illness. While every day wasn't filled with happiness and smiles, when it came right down to it, we knew we would be together again one day and that day would not have any of the pain or hurtful memories we shared now. While this may sound trite, it did give us hope and a vision of a better day.

"By his power, God raised the Lord from the dead and he will raise us also." (1 Corinthians 6:14)

We may view death as the ultimate brokenness, but it is the first step into a new life with Jesus. Do we need any more reason to share the Gospel with others than this?


Romans 8:1-11

Family Feud

Genesis 37:3-4 (NIV)  Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.  When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 

How does a family fall apart so completely that members stop talking to one another? How do they get to the point of hating each other?  What sort of evil can do this? I asked myself this question after reading the story of Joseph, a boy of seventeen, who was such an annoyance to his brothers they sold him into slavery and pretended he was dead. 

This story sounds extreme and makes me wonder just what Joseph did to cause such intense feelings on the part of his brothers. Emotions this strong don't happen overnight. Many of us can relate to some sort of family feud or division; like an aunt or uncle who have severed ties with the rest of the clan. Sometimes a sister and brother stop talking and attending family gatherings. How does this happen? 

As I was praying about these passages in Genesis and trying to ascertain their relationship to the Advent season it became clear that it was just this sort of brokenness Jesus came to mend.  It was because of the hearts that need softening and relationships that need repair that God sent Jesus to us.

Jesus came to teach humility.  His presence among us set an example for the ages. Remember a few years ago one of the popular pieces of jewelry was a bracelet with the initials WWJD inscribed. I find I still ask the question, “What would Jesus do,” when facing a difficult situation. It might sound trite, but it helps this writer to discern her next steps.

I realize there is much more to this chapter in Genesis.  There was much going on behind the scenes that had to happen so God could use Joseph to rescue his family and continue the lineage we recognize during the Christmas season. But one of the lessons we learn is that our broken world is in need of a redeemer to draw families together; to repair relationships. Jesus is the answer.

Genesis 37:2-11

Psalm 69

Prayer is Breaking

“Blessed be your name, in a land that is plentiful.

Where your streams of abundance flow, blessed be your name.”

“Blessed be your name, when I’m found in the desert place.

Though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be your name.”

These lines sung by Chris Tomlin and several other artists illustrates how we as Christ followers are called to praise the name of the Lord no matter what our circumstances. Through the good times and bad, amidst joy as well as sorrow and suffering, our God looks for us to worship and thank Him. Yes, it’s much easier to be grateful for the blessings in our lives than the pain and sorrow, but as we become more aware of God’s workings and realize our plans are often not the same as His it becomes a bit easier to do.

The true test of our devotion is when the rain keeps coming day after day, month upon month, and for years on end. When one trial after another beats us down and empties our soul as in Psalm 69, ---the Lord waits for us to cry out in our brokenness. Verses 1-3; “Save me, Oh God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; and the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.” 

We tend to turn our backs and run from pain and trials, but perhaps that is not what is best. If we stay in the pain rather than attempt to flee from it, God will meet us in that pain and do His work in us if we allow it. Standing firm within the storm and lifting our eyes, hands and heart upward is the best way to see the storm through and then look around to realize and appreciate what the rains have produced.

“We must trust the Lord through the darkness, and honor Him with unwavering confidence even in the midst of difficult situations. The reward of this kind of faith will be like that of an eagle shedding its feathers is said to receive—a renewed sense of youth and strength.” J.R. Macduff

Read/Listen to Psalm 69