Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 29
Thursday


LOST AND
FOUND

READ:
Luke 15:4-24
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This my son was dead
and is alive again; he
was lost and is found.
__Luke 15:24
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A Wall Street Journal article by Jennifer Saranow chronicled the extraordinary efforts of middle-aged American men who are tying to find the favorite car they once owned and loved, but lost. They are searching online car ads, phoning junkyards, and even hiring specialists who charge $400 an hour to help them search for an automobile that once symbolized their youth. These men want the actual car they owned, not one just like it.

Some would call their efforts frivolous--a waste of time and money. But the value of a car, like many things, is in the eye of the beholder.

In Luke 15, people who were despised by their society came to hear Jesus. But some religious leaders complained, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them" (v.2). To affirm how valuable these "sinners" are to God, Jesus told three memorable stories about a lost sheep (vv.4-7), a lost coin (vv.8-10), and a lost son (vv.11-32). Each parable records the anguish of losing, the effort of searching, and the joy of finding something of great worth. In every story, we see a picture of God, the loving Father, who rejoices over every lost soul who is found.

Even if you feel far from God today, you are highly valued by Him. He's searching for you. __David McCasland

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`````````````````I once was lost, but now I'm found;```````````````
```````````````````Praise God! Christ died for me;````````````````
```````````````````He valued me, redeemed my soul;`````````````
``````````````````From sin He set me free. __Sper```````````````
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Those who have been found should seek the lost.

**********Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 15:4-24*****************

4 What man of you, having
a hundred sheep, if he loses
one of them, does not leave
the ninety-nine in the
wilderness, and go after the
one which is lost until he
finds it?... 7 I say to you
that likewise there will be
more joy in heaven over one
sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine just persons who
need no repentance.

8 Or what woman, having
ten silver coins, if she loses
one coin, does not light a
lamp, sweep the house, and
search carefully until she
finds it?... 10 Likewise, I
say to you, there is joy in the
presence of the angels of
God over one sinner who
repents.

11 Then He said: "A certain
man had two sons. 12 And the
younger of them said to his
father, 'Father, give me the
portion of goods that falls to
me.' So he divided to them
his livelihood. 13 And not
many days after, the younger
son gathered all together,
journeyed to a far country,
and there wasted his
possessions with prodigal
living....

17 "But when he came to
himself, he said.... 18 'I will
arise and go to my father,
and will say to him, Father,
I have sinned against heaven
and before you, 19 and I am
no longer worthy to be called
your son. Make me like one
of your hired servants." '

20 "And he arose and came
to his father. But when he
was still a great way off, his
father saw him and had
compassion, and ran and fell
on his neck and kissed him.

21 And the son said to him,
'Father, I have sinned against
heaven and in your sight,
and am no longer worthy to
be called your son.'

22 "But the father said to his
servants, 'Bring out the best
robe and put it on him, and
put a ring on his hand and
sandals on his feet. 23 And
bring the fatted calf here and
kill it, and let us eat and be
merry; 24 for this my son was
dead and is alive again; he
was lost and is found.' And
they began to be merry."

[Lani]

Those who have been found should seek the lost.

Great Post!!

Sadly, sometimes we focus on the fact that we were "lost" and fail to see the fact that we've been found... and so, pain continues. Until we are able to lean on Him fully, stand up and let the dust fall off... then with untainted eyes, (and heart) we can reach out to others.

Peace and Luv in Christ,

Lani