Lost and found

Yesterday, i thought our sunday school - oh, excuse me - ABF lesson was really great. the teache taught out of Luke 15 - the lost and found chapter. it contains the 3 parables: the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son, or prodigal. Jay, the teacher made some observations about those stories that i had never heard/considered.

the lost sheep: the sheep didn't intend to stray. he just looked up and before he knew it, he had wandered off the beaten path. kinda like at the beach. if you don't pay attention, you'll be a mile down the beach, just coasting.

the lost coin: the coin had no idea it was lost and no idea that it was valuable. the woman searching frantically for it did. how many folks 1) don't realize they are lost and 2) don't realize their value. Thank God that He does and He searches high and low to bring us back into His possession.

the lost son: intentionally left. this story is such a beautiful example and picture of grace and love. i know so few of us would be able to wait and wait and wait for a wayward soul to return and then extend not an ounce of discipline nor "i told you so" but love, love and more love. God sits back and waits while we wander off to see the world and squander what is ours. He doesn't guilt us into coming home. He doesn't spend His time plotting our demise. He simply watches (love that) and waits. And when we muster up the strength to recognize that life "out there" sucks, we find Him scanning the horizon for our return.

so, whether we find ourselves sadly off course, never really knew we were missing to someone or just had to "get out of here to find ourselves", our Father longs to convince us that we've been FOUND.

i pray that the truth of His overwhelming love and grace and desire to be your Father stays with you today!

sim