Diligence, Perseverance... for the Lost

Yesterday I had a wonderful example of how our Lord is diligent and how He perseveres in finding His lost sheep. 

My husband was able to leave work a bit earlier than normal and join us at the park for some play time with friends... another dad was able to be there also, so they struck up a soccer game between the kids and the dads.  Sometime during the game my husband took his wedding ring off and put it in the pocket in his pocket... he thought it would be secure there.  Later during the game he had a bad crash, and down he went... well, unbeknownst to him,out went his wedding ring.  He noticed as they were preparing to leave. 

Friends stayed and helped search for a bit, but eventually everyone had to leave.  The boys and I helped of course, but 9 pm rolled around and I brought the kids home to shower and go to bed; they had a big soccer game the next morning.  My hubby had planned to stay and search till 10... 10:05 he was not home.  I texted him, he replied back he was still searching and staying until at least 11:30, he wanted to sweep the entire field. 

He was very diligent and very precise in his search.  He had the field marked off with cones and a rope.  As he finished a section he would move the cones and rope so that he would not research an area already searched, and so he would not miss a section.  It was dark, so he was searching by flashlight. 

As I thought about him out there at the park, by himself, in the dark, searching for such a small item in such a huge field, I was reminded of our Lord's diligence and perseverance in searching for His lost sheep.  It reminded me of the following scripture passages:

Luke 15:4-7
^4-7 “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.

Luke 15:8-10
 “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? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

How thankful I am that my husband treasures our marriage and his wedding ring and what it represents!  My heart is blessed that he would work so hard to find something so little, but yet means so much! 

How wonderful that our Father in Heaven treasures each of  His sheep, and that He is diligent and persevering in finding the one that is lost!  Do you know some lost sheep that need to be found by their Father?  Don't give up in praying for them... don't stop loving them... their Father is still searching, and one day He will find every single one that is His own! 

Can you find the ring in the picture??

It only took my sweet husband about 5 hours!!

Honor and Respect

In my current Bible study we are studying through the book of Malachi... the last book of the Old Testament.  Since this past September we have been studying the Israelite's return to Jerusalem, the rebuilding of the temple, and the reconstruction of the walls around the city. At this time in the history of Israel, in the book of Malachi, sacrifices have resumed at the temple.  But the Lord is not pleased... and He uses Malachi to get His point across...

" 'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name.

But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?' 7 "You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is to be despised.' 8 "But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts. 9 "But now will you not entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts.

10 "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of hosts, "nor will I accept an offering from you.

11 "For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts. 12 "But you are profaning it, in that you say, 'The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.' 13 "You also say, 'My, how tiresome it is!' And you disdainfully sniff at it," says the LORD of hosts, "and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?" says the LORD. 14 "But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and My name is feared among the nations." Malachi 1:6-14

God is not pleased... The people are not giving Him their best, they are not respecting and fearing Him for the Great King and Lord that He is.  His name is to be feared among the nations.  Instead they are offering him their "leftovers"... they are saving the best for themselves.  He longs for someone who will close the door to these unacceptable sacrifices and tell the people to quit wasting the trivial amount of effort they are putting forth.  They are going through the motions... they have no heart and no mind in their sacrifices.  

What does it tell the world when we give our Lord a small window of our time?  What does it tell the world when we save the best for ourselves and give away our "leftovers" to those in need?  What does it tell the world when we would rather our kids see all the Disney movies than know the Word of God?  What does it tell the world when we spend the bulk of our time on things that have no eternal value?  What does it tell the world when we allow the filth on tv and in movies to influence our minds and our children's minds more than the Word of God? 

Does that communicate honor and respect for our God? 

God wants our best.  He wants us to live in a way that shows the world that He is a great King and that His name is to be feared.  He wants us to live in a way that communicates His great love for us.  Read God's Word and be astounded and awed at what He has done for you.  Dig deep into His Word and learn of His lavish grace and His lovingkindness that is everlasting.  Do this and your life will become a life of worship to Him... and others will be drawn to Him through you, and He will be honored and glorified through your life of worship. 

Go and read your Bible... then go and offer our great God a sacrifice of praise for all He has done for you! 

(If you do not have a Bible and want one, message me or leave me a comment and I will make sure you get one.)