“Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place… And now arise, O Lord God, and go to Your resting place [among your people]… Let your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in your goodness! Oh Lord God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one! Remember your steadfast love!” And as soon as Solmon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple! (From 2 Chronicles 6:40-7:1 ESV)
I’ve observed it, as have you… Panic, action, frantic searches, search parties, blood hounds, the use of helicopters… if a child, a loved one hiking in the wilderness, or a challenged adult WANDERS AWAY! Every caring person is sought and mobilized who can be persuaded to help out and the search begins… Every possible location is searched, dangerous places are scoured, the name of the person who wandered away is called over and over again. And oh, the joy and relief, when the wanderer is found and is safe again!!!
All of that came to mind as I read the following word in James 5:19-20 this morning…
“If anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins!”
The family [the “Spiritual family] of the WANDERER is first… they mobilize and search – no effort is too great, nothing is more important! Others who care are mobilized and participate on search teams [from other bodies of believers] and they are so appreciated and valued! And Oh the joy when the lost is found and returns “home” [in this case, back to their Savior and Lord, and family of believers they are a part of]!
You know, there is a parable that gives us a glimpse of the “Father’s heart” on this issue!
“So Jesus told them this parable: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’” (Luke 15:3–7 ESV)
Hey, at some time or other we have all strayed… 1 Peter 2:25 speaks to this issue: “You were all straying like sheep, but now you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls!”
Listen, I want to be available and willing to search for the WANDERER! I want to take the risks and make the effort necessary find them and bring them back “home” to the Lord! What rejoicing in heaven – the redeemed of all ages there erupt in joyful praise! “DIVINE SEARCH AND RESCUE” – what a ministry!!!
I’m encouraged by all my Facebook friends who are participating in “DAYS OF THANKSGIVING” this year! I am uplifted by their daily FB posts of thanksgiving and gratitude!
It’s a tragic thing when “Thanksgiving Day” becomes simply one day out of the year… even more tragic when it is secularized to become “Turkey Day”!! It ought to at least be a “season” … no, better yet it needs to become a “life attitude” and practice EVERY day of the year!! … “THANKSLIVING!”
This morning part of my Bible reading was 1 Chronicles 29.10-13… Part of David’s prayer after personally giving generously for the construction of the temple and also urging the people he led to give generously for the project his son Solomon would carry to completion… I read his words and decided I want to make them my mantra this Thanksgiving season…
“Praise be to you Lord…from everlasting to everlasting! Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor! Everything in heaven and earth is Yours! … You are exalted as Head over all! Wealth and honor come from You; You are ruler of all things! In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name!”
Following this David simply acknowledged “Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand!” He went to pray, “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity! All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have see with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to You… Keep these desires and thought in the hearts of Your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to You!” (From 1 Chronicles 29.14-20 NIV)
What a noble attitude! What a wonderful desire! I want it to be mine! I want it to captivate my heart and carry me from Thanksgiving to Christmas, then on up to the New Year and through the rest of my life!! Don’t you! … “THANKSLIVING!”
Coffee With The Lord 