Lost- The Perfect Episode
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin."- Luke 15:8-9
When it comes to losing things around the house there are certain items we find it almost impossible to live without. From car keys to reading glasses; from passports to the checkbook; from a baby's pacifier to cell phones, there are possessions we are willing to turn over every piece of furniture, search every crevice, and comb through every drawer of knick-knacks until that treasure is found.
Last week I found myself on a mini-expedition to find the "Lost Wallet of Isaac", as my oldest son was missing his high school identification card. The reason for this moment of urgency and state of emergency was that a new school semester was beginning. That caused this little brown wallet to become a pretty big ordeal, as my son was unable to check out any textbooks without a student ID. So on my drive home last Monday I was done with the adventure and determined that finding the lost wallet would become my main mission. You could say that I went into full "Indiana Jones" mode as I interviewed each family member, retraced Isaac's steps, and identified potential spots for the buried treasure. After only two minutes the wallet was found deep in the jungle of the couch cushions. Upon finding it I yelled out, "I HAVE IT!" What a joy and relief to find what had been missing.
I recount this ordeal not to congratulate myself on a job well done or to celebrate a missing student card (as we would have been willing to pay for a replacement), but to think about the areas of my faith and life that are worth focusing on, worth seeking out, and worth pursuing no matter the time, effort, or cost. As we continue to move through this beginning part of 2016, what are the treasures in our lives that are worth discovering and are impossible to live without? The above passage in Luke 15 is a parable Jesus spoke describing the great VALUE of people in God's sight, the great LABOR in searching for the lost, and the great JOY when the lost are found. The very mission and victory of Jesus is found in this most important treasure hunt which He defines in Luke 19:10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
As we move throughout our days where are the places that need more attention and require an all heart, mind, and strength faith pursuit? We may need to rediscover the great depth of blessing that comes by spending time with God in prayer and His Word each day. We may need to seek out clearer direction and purpose for our lives when we are feeling overwhelmed, distracted, and uncertain. We may need to make a greater investment into our regular relationships, because people matter more to God and we were designed for meaningful relationship with others.
No matter if an area in your life has felt lost for days, weeks, or months, the good news is that today you can find God's treasure for your life that will unlock greater answers, blessings, and celebrations!