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.”

Luke 15:1-10

God’s Passion for Lost People

Jesus had a rare gift to be able to attract those despised and ridiculed by the masses. He was approachable. I envision Jesus emitted an aura of love and acceptance, a welcoming spirit.

   

As Jesus somehow enticed the taxpayers and sinners of the area to gather around him, the Pharisees and teachers of the law muttered about how Jesus welcomes and eats with sinners. They had so much to learn.

Jesus shared with them the parable of the lost sheep, and how the shepherd will leave ninety nine to locate the missing from the flock. He also told the story of the woman who misplaced one of her silver coins and did not rest until it was found. These things were treasured by the ones who lost them.

This reminded me of the time the diamond from my wedding ring went missing. Because of the sentimental value above all, I dedicated the entire day to retracing my steps. I could not rest until I located it, though anyone who knew what I was attempting, thought I was in a futile search. As I drove our old suburban into the driveway nearing defeat, I recalled unloading my nephew’s birthday gift from the back tailgate. I had already gone back and searched their home and yard to no avail, as well as the other half a dozen places I had been. As the gate dropped down and I scanned the area I grabbed his package from, a sparkle beyond description revealed itself to me between the crease of the tailgate and the bed of the truck. Wow!  That was it. To this day I guard and protect that stone like never before.

So the analogy; as I reread my words I am somewhat distressed. If that stone meant so much to me, there are some other things that should take precedence as well, like people. Though I attempt to share my faith and go out of my way to help others and draw them to the Lord, am I doing so with as much passion and determination as I put forth when looking for my diamond?

How much more precious than diamonds, are people made in God’s image, even when that image has been tarnished by sin. We are all diamonds in the rough, each of us worth finding and cleaning up for the Lord. 

Read/Listen to Luke 15:1-10

It's all about Trust

Matthew 21:42-22 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

the Lord has done this,

and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.

We have heard stories and sermons over the years about the Cornerstone, this mighty stone the builders rejected. Depending on my situation in life at the time of hearing one of these talks, I get a differing message.  That is one of the wonderful things about the Scriptures - they speak to our heart in ways that touch us personally and right in the moment.

This portion of the Gospel of Matthew, the Parable of the Tenants, is a story of greed, disobedience and evil.  I question why would the tenants, people who occupy land rented from the owner, behave in such a despicable manner? Where does their twisted way of thinking come from? What makes them think they have any more claim to the land than they originally agreed to when they contracted with the owner?

The question I ask myself is, how often do I lay claim to more than is rightfully mine?  Do I go right over the top of someone to get what I want?  Do I leave a trail of pain and destruction behind me? I wonder what it could have been like, had the tenants in this story worked with the landowner and his son.  What a wonderful life they all could have lived had the tenants lived up to their end of the bargain. Imagine a relationship of trust and love that would result in sharing of wealth.

This sounds like a utopia, a dream world that only happens in our dreams. The Bible tells us we can have this life.  We can trust our Landowner to "give us this day, or daily bread," and we can have a relationship with him that goes deep and give life. Jesus was that son in the parable and He is our Cornerstone today.  We can build our lives on Him and be confident there will be a fruitful and profitable tomorrow.

Do you need a Cornerstone in your life today? Do you know someone who does? Is there a storm brewing that will challenge your foundation? All we need to do is call upon "the stone the builders rejected," for safety, for our salvation.

Matthew 21:33-46

Luke 13:18-21

When Jesus walked the earth, he often used parables to teach. Those lessons of life are available to us today, within His word. These parables hold within them important messages for us that are not always easy to understand. The parable of the mustard seed and the yeast is brief. When I read it I see Jesus contemplating just how to verbalize his thoughts. Thinking deeply about his word choice, and making a visual in his head before he begins speaking. “Then Jesus asked, What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.”

In Mark 4:30-32 the parable of the mustard seed is again mentioned. At the end of it however, Mark writes “With many similar parables, Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” How awesome would that have been to be one of those who Jesus clarified his parables to! They often hold messages we do not see, because our understanding of God’s kingdom is like a mustard seed, so very small. It has the potential however, to grow into something bigger than we know, larger and richer than our brains can wrap around. Even as devoted Christ followers we are still unable to fathom what is to come….but we still try, and as we do, we grow and sprout branches.

Click here to view entire passage

Matthew 5:14-30 The Parable of the Talents

The gifts we have been blessed with are immeasurable! Splendid mountains and oceans, indescribable sunsets and starlit nights, sunshine, birds, butterflies, and fireflies, waterfalls, and fishing. Closer to our hearts and to varying degrees, we are all offered health, love, peace, family, and the ability to express our beliefs and faith. Still deeper within each one of us, God has strategically placed unique gifts-talents he urges us to use for good.

Matthew writes "The Parable of the Talents" as a lesson for us. A reminder of what God expects. No matter how large or small the gift we feel we've been given is, there is a purpose for it and an expectation.

In this gospel reading, the master went away (as God did) and entrusted his property to his servants(as God did). He gave the three of them "talents" according to their ability (as God has). He returned with expectations (as God will) that his servants had done something with the talents they'd been given, that would increase his wealth (God's heavenly kingdom perhaps)? How are we using our talents? Are we burying them for safe keeping as the third servant did, or investing what we have in His name, with the greater picture in mind?

Parable of the Shrewd Manager - Luke 16:1-15

Are you using what God has given you for His purposes: to point others toward Him?

Jesus uses a parable to point out how worldly people manage their money and possessions hoping to guarantee their future in this world. It is a selfish approach to living.

“People of the Light” are encouraged to use the wisdom they have in a godly way. Rather than investing for a future in this world, they are to be good managers of what they have for a future in His world. This means thinking not only of oneself, but of the needs of others.

The point is: we live in a material society surrounded by THINGS and STUFF. Worldly things have value only on earth. Our possessions don’t really belong to us. Everything belongs to God. We can be generous with each other because God has been generous to us. We should choose to use God’s property for good; to produce eternal rewards. Rather than thinking on what we can do with our possessions for ourselves, we should ask, “How can we reach people for Christ?”

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (v 13)

Read today's text, Luke 16:1-15, on Biblegateway.

The Widow's Offering - Mark 12:41-44

Do you know the treasury boxes in the temple were made of metal? Picture the wealthy walking into the temple with large bags of money. What an unbelievable noise it makes as they throw the contents into the boxes!

Jesus and His disciples are watching. A widow quietly moves through the line unaware that Jesus is looking at her. The disciples pay little attention as the poor widow drops two small copper coins into the box.

Jesus calls His disciples together. The show of wealth is obvious. Jesus wants them to see something very different.

“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put out everything she had, all she had to live on.” (v 43-44)

Jesus isn’t looking at the amount the widow gave. He sees her giving as an act of worship and obedience to God. This is what Jesus asks of His disciples. The widow gives “all she has to live on.” She gives her whole life. Her heart is focused on God; what she has to offer Him.

The message is: God wants us to give what we have, through worship and obedience, whether it is great or small. We should never fail to give because we think it is too insignificant. We should never fail to do something because we think it won’t make a difference.

God is great. He can do extraordinary things with small gifts.

Read today's text, Mark 12:41-44, on Biblegateway.

Matthew 25:14-30

Want to go on a treasure hunt? When I read a parable I am on a search. Jesus challenges me with hidden messages. I dig through clues to discover new insights into living life as a Christian.

Jesus tells a story of a master who gives each of his servants some talents. He expects them to invest the money to make a profit for him. The obedient servants take a risk with the money and bring additional cash to their master. The master shows his appreciation by allowing them to have greater responsibilities and share in his happiness.

The third servant makes no effort to honor his master. The money is hidden in the ground. The only work he does is digging the money up to return to his master. The master, irritated by the laziness and disobedience of his servant, says, “…throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (v 30)

Jesus' message is: We are expected to work hard using what God gives us for the benefit of His Kingdom. Our life will be worth nothing if we live it only for ourselves. We make an investment in eternity when we step out and join Him in His work.

Has God given you something to invest that is similar to the talents handed to the servants? Are you doing something that benefits His Kingdom? This is what God expects of lives lived for Christ.

Read today's text, Matthew 25:14-30, on Biblegateway.