Lost and Found

A friend, who has been married 50 years, lost a diamond out of her wedding ring a few days ago.  She wasn't sure she would ever find it.  Last night, she happened to find it in the bathroom and was understandably excited, after thinking it was lost forever!

This story reminded me of our oldest son, Zachary, when he was little.  Zachary enjoyed dressing in a suit and tie for worship, just like his dad.  For something special, I began to get he and his brother tie tacks made from charms (the jewelry store sends them and has them made into tie tacks) a few times a year.  One Sunday, after we got home from worship, Zachary noticed his tie tac was missing.  He and I quickly returned to the church building, but before we went in, I told Zachary we should pray about finding it.

We prayed that we would find the tie tac, then got out, went inside and began searching.  We first went into the classroom where I had taught him earlier that morning, and there it was!  The tie tac was in the very first place we searched!  Immediately, I told Zachary we needed to pray again, telling God thank you....and we did.

I was confident that we would find the tie tac...mostly because that's just my personality to expect good results (for the most part, that is.), but it was such an awesome thing that day to show Zachary about prayer - even for something as insignificant as a tie tac.  He was able to see that pray answered immediately!  Prayers aren't always answered immediately, we all know, but that day it was.  And it made an impression on my little boy.

Sometimes we think God only cares about the big things.  I don't believe that.  I believe that God cares about everything and can help me in everything - big or small.  The problem is that sometimes I don't ask Him for His help.  Sometimes I want to do things - or choose to do things - on my own...without His help.  Why would I ever do that?  Why would I ever choose to make a decision on my own, when I have a Heavenly Father and the Creator of the Universe who is willing and able to help me?  Put that way, it doesn't make much sense, does it?!  God should be a major part of ALL of our plans.  He want to be part of our plans.  We just have to LET Him be part of our plans.

When we lose something, we're sad.  When it is found, we rejoice!  Relating these two stories of lost and found makes me thinks of Jesus' parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15.  In each story, something was lost.....some by negligence and some by choice.  In each story, rejoicing happened when the lost thing/person was found.  These parables illustrate God's love and rejoicing when one is lost and is found.  When someone is unsaved and becomes saved.  You and I have to help the lost be saved.  That is our responsibility.  Let's not forget to be praying about the lost...just as Zachary and I prayed for the lost tie tac.  And then, let's not forget to pray about and rejoice for those who are found.

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:7

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Luke 15:31-32

There are many who are lost.  Let's get to looking for them!