finding Jesus | considering the word

Mt. 18:14: “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

The song of a Carolina Wren caught my attention this morning. I found it was perched on my fence, singing. I noticed a rustling in the garden below and realized that it’s mate was down there eating. I watched as they took turns perching and eating. It was nice to see the unity between the birds.

After that, I read the parable of the lost sheep, and I couldn’t help but see the way God shows us His feelings throughout His creation. Mt. 18:12 says that if one sheep is lost it will be sought. Every single one of us is important to God.

When we think of the way we feel about our own family, we can understand why this is important to God. If one of our own family becomes separated from us, we would give anything to bring them back to us. The birds I was watching this morning were in sync, so beautifully paired, that I know they’re union has meaning to them.

God put examples of His own feelings within His creation. We can better understand that God truly doesn’t want to lose a single one of us. He wants us all with Him. We are important to Him and it grieves Him to lose us, just as it grieves us to lose someone.

If we know someone’s family member is missing, we do everything in our power to help them find that person. God asked us to do the same with His children. When one strays away, or one hasn’t found the way to Him, He asks us to show them the way. He asks us to introduce them to the One who is the Way, Jesus Christ.

We can take a lesson from God’s creation and lovingly seek out God’s lost children and bring them to Him.

Lord, help us show them the Way. Help us to get over the fear of speaking to others about You. Help us to remember that the love we have for our own family is just a glimmer of the love You have for Your own children. Help us to be willing to seek and find those who are lost. We know this is Your will. Thank You for loving each one of us this much, Lord. You are a good Father.

Found,

jamie

I just caught a few minutes of a movie where a girl finds a piece of some long-lost treasure. It ended with her walking away with that one piece and going on with her life.

Not hardly. I only saw the first 15 minutes of the 108 minute movie, but I think it’s safe to assume that the remaining 93 minutes will be about her going back to try to find the rest of the treasure.

Watching the girl’s intrigue and excitement about the treasure she discovered reminded me of the treasure we find in Christ.

We all love treasure. We all love finding something of worth. We all like the excitement of things that are out of the ordinary.

What was the piece treasure you found that pointed to Christ? Was it a scripture that spoke directly to your situation? Perhaps God answered a prayed even when you weren’t serving Him? Did you witness a miracle or a transformation in someone’s life? Was your piece of treasure the Holy Spirit comforting you when nothing else could?

Whatever the exact piece of treasure you found, it’s hard to simply walk away with that 1 piece and go on with life. It’s almost impossible not to be intrigued by the prospect that there is more where that came from.

What’s the best part? There truly is more waiting for us. Much more. All we have to do is go back and search for another piece. James 4:8 tells us that when we draw near to God He will draw near to us. That means that when we search for more of Him, we will find it. He is ready to reveal more when we continue to dig.

If you have found a piece of the great treasure that is in Jesus Christ, don’t walk away with just that 1 piece. Go back and dig for another. It’s there just waiting for your discovery.

Eventually you’ll have found so much that you’ll have no other desire than to share a piece with someone else. Then they will go back and search for more, as well. And so it continues…

Leaving no stone unturned,

jamie