Scripture: "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. (Psalm 34:7)
"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:11)
I don't speak of angels very often. I think at times, angels serve specific purposes and functions. But I would never think of giving them any more credit than how God chooses to use them in our lives. Ultimately, angels are used throughout the bible as messengers of God, they've been used to do God's bidding, they even destroyed the Israelites' enemies. They have given direction, shut the mouths of the lions when David was fed to them, they opened the doors of jails and released the handcuffs on Peter's wrists.
I believe my best friend and I experienced angels in action two weekends ago. I don't know why I say that, because I don't give angels much thought, usually. But what happened was nothing less than a miracle.
We were on our way home from a friend's house and were waiting at a stop light, when in the rear view mirror, my friend saw an out of control car heading straight towards us with no sign of stopping or slowing down. With an amazingly calm voice, she warned me of what was about to happen. With an equal amount of strange "peace", I said "ok" and I sat and waited for the inevitable. We didn't tense up, cry out, panic or .. really even react. There was nothing we could do - but we were both calm.
A car rear ended us at a high rate of speed, spun us out sideways, across two lanes, over a median, and across 3 more lanes - and not one car was in our path!! God simply rolled the car we were in - backwards and gently onto the sidewalk across the street and parked us out of the flow of any traffic. He miraculously CLEARED the traffic so no others were involved!
The intersection this happened at is a very busy intersection in Port Hueneme. It felt as if although God didn't stop what was going to happen - He orchestrated His divine protection over us in a most incredible way. We were supposed to have friends with us - who didn't end up coming along. He cleared traffic so no other cars were involved. He sent "good Samaritans" to check up on us, to call 9-1-1 even before our car came to a complete stop, to stay and give their witness reports to the police who arrived.
We both walked away pretty much unharmed. The car was totaled. My friend ended up with whiplash. But to look at the wreckage, at what the force of impact did to her car, to see the distance we were flown, it is nothing less than a miracle that we walked away nearly unscathed.
As for the driver of the car that hit us, three men abandoned the car and fled on foot. The police caught two of them trying to hail a taxi two streets away. God knows who they are. I will allow Him and state law to mete out justice on them. I am at peace.
We called the friends we had been visiting, and they came onto the scene and offered comfort, assistance, a ride home. They were precious in our time of need. And one of them mentioned she sensed an angel had been nearby - a very big, protecting angel.
I do believe angels move among us, guiding, protecting, doing the LORD's bidding. And this night was an example of what I believe. The Lord protected us from serious harm, and I believe He used an angel or angels to accomplish exactly what He did.
Exodus 23:20 says, "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared."
It occurred to us, later, that perhaps we were "targeted" that night, because at a recent church meeting, we realized how much we have each grown in our faith, in our involvement in church, in the ministries we have each joined and serve in. I'm not a "demon-chaser", I don't look for "the enemy" around every corner. But neither do I doubt the opposing forces Christians will often encounter.
Praise God we are alive and well. We were protected. And with that thought in mind, my best friend and I looked at each other days later, and had to ask, "What plans does the Lord have for us, for the enemy to want to take us out?"
I don't know, but my faith has grown by leaps and bounds and only made stronger by this experience. We do serve an awesome God! Hallelujah!!
Prayer: Lord, we continue to humbly offer up our thanks and praise for Your love and protection. And in so experiencing this near tragedy, I ask You to please protect our brothers and sisters far and wide, whom You are guiding to accomplish specific tasks in Your name. May You set a hedge of protection around them all, and send Your angels to guide and intervene as You would have them do. Amen
Prayer request: Continue to pray for our missionaries abroad, for the ministries going on in your own church, for guidance and protection of all those going about God's business.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Who is Jesus?
Scriptures: “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; Others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ He asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.’” (Matthew 16:13-17)
A friend of mine is a chess player. He told me a story from his high school days. In one of the tournaments, his school team played against another high school. After one of the games, he ran into one of his teammates. My friend asked his teammate, “Who did you play against?” His friend replied, “I played against Yu (an Asian guy from their opponent team.” Taken by surprise, my friend replied, “No you didn’t play against me. Who did you play against?” His friend replied, “Yu! I played against Yu!” After another round or two, my friend finally realized that his friend was playing with a guy named Yu.
This may sound like a funny story. But, in life, we often find ourselves in situations like this, confusing people with someone else or misunderstanding others’ true identity. Of all the people in human history, I would say the identity of Jesus has been the most controversial one. His controversial identity wasn’t a result of what He did or said for He had always been very clear and direct about His identity. Instead, it was a result of people refusing to know Him the way He presented Himself.
Many Christians today regard this issue of Jesus’ identity as a theological issue. But I find it hard to accept this type of viewpoint. How can we regard the identity of the One we call Lord and Savior with whom we walk on a daily basis as a theological issue? How can a theological issue save us from the power of sin? People want to avoid the question of who Jesus truly is. Why? I don’t know! But, this I know, Jesus did not want His disciples to avoid this question.
In the passage today, Jesus inquired into His disciples on what identity people thought of Him. Then He went on to ask the disciples what they thought of His identity. His insistence on having His disciples addressing this question was more than important. It was critical for His disciples to understand because His identity has everything to do with His mission and the revelation of the grace of God.
In many ways, people nowadays acknowledge the humanity of Jesus but deny His deity. Muslims teach that Jesus was a great prophet, a mere human being, much like the people of Jesus’ days. Liberal theologians argued that the deity came upon Jesus at the time He was baptized, as though He was not God before 30 years old. They do so because they found no human rationalization sufficient to understand His deity and, indeed, other than the revelation of God, there was no human. Jesus acknowledged such limitation on human rationalization, too. In His response to Peter’s confession, He said, “…this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17) In other words, the only source from which we can gain accurate understanding of His identity is not through human rationalization, but through the revelation of God as recorded in the Bible.
It’s amazing to note that, when an Angel appeared to Mary regarding the birth of Jesus, the angel told Mary that, “…You will be with child … you are to give him the name of Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:31-32) This is part of the good news the angel proclaimed to a group of shepherds later on. Yes, His identity is part of the good news that we are expected to bear witness to.
As a matter of fact, removing His identity from the gospel is to me to remove the foundation of the gospel. His work can never be separated from His identity. Jesus took His true identity and how His disciples view His identity seriously. Do we share His seriousness? When we go out and witness to non-believers, who are we witnessing for? A true and living Lord and Savior? Or just a theological persuasion? Is He the Lord of our everyday life? Or was He merely a great historical person to remember? When we accept wholeheartedly His identity as He revealed to us, how much richer will our worship and fellowship life be?
Prayer Requests:
For all children of God to experience deeper on a daily basis into the riches and glory of the presence of our Lord and Savior
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to redeem us out of Your grace. Holy Spirit, please help us understand clearly the reality and significance of the identity of our Lord Jesus so You may work in us to lead us closer to You. We pray that our walk with You will enable us to show Your grace and glory in this dark and twisted world so others may join us in exalting our Lord and Savor Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit because we pray in the wonderful name of Jesus, our Savor, Amen!
A friend of mine is a chess player. He told me a story from his high school days. In one of the tournaments, his school team played against another high school. After one of the games, he ran into one of his teammates. My friend asked his teammate, “Who did you play against?” His friend replied, “I played against Yu (an Asian guy from their opponent team.” Taken by surprise, my friend replied, “No you didn’t play against me. Who did you play against?” His friend replied, “Yu! I played against Yu!” After another round or two, my friend finally realized that his friend was playing with a guy named Yu.
This may sound like a funny story. But, in life, we often find ourselves in situations like this, confusing people with someone else or misunderstanding others’ true identity. Of all the people in human history, I would say the identity of Jesus has been the most controversial one. His controversial identity wasn’t a result of what He did or said for He had always been very clear and direct about His identity. Instead, it was a result of people refusing to know Him the way He presented Himself.
Many Christians today regard this issue of Jesus’ identity as a theological issue. But I find it hard to accept this type of viewpoint. How can we regard the identity of the One we call Lord and Savior with whom we walk on a daily basis as a theological issue? How can a theological issue save us from the power of sin? People want to avoid the question of who Jesus truly is. Why? I don’t know! But, this I know, Jesus did not want His disciples to avoid this question.
In the passage today, Jesus inquired into His disciples on what identity people thought of Him. Then He went on to ask the disciples what they thought of His identity. His insistence on having His disciples addressing this question was more than important. It was critical for His disciples to understand because His identity has everything to do with His mission and the revelation of the grace of God.
In many ways, people nowadays acknowledge the humanity of Jesus but deny His deity. Muslims teach that Jesus was a great prophet, a mere human being, much like the people of Jesus’ days. Liberal theologians argued that the deity came upon Jesus at the time He was baptized, as though He was not God before 30 years old. They do so because they found no human rationalization sufficient to understand His deity and, indeed, other than the revelation of God, there was no human. Jesus acknowledged such limitation on human rationalization, too. In His response to Peter’s confession, He said, “…this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17) In other words, the only source from which we can gain accurate understanding of His identity is not through human rationalization, but through the revelation of God as recorded in the Bible.
It’s amazing to note that, when an Angel appeared to Mary regarding the birth of Jesus, the angel told Mary that, “…You will be with child … you are to give him the name of Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:31-32) This is part of the good news the angel proclaimed to a group of shepherds later on. Yes, His identity is part of the good news that we are expected to bear witness to.
As a matter of fact, removing His identity from the gospel is to me to remove the foundation of the gospel. His work can never be separated from His identity. Jesus took His true identity and how His disciples view His identity seriously. Do we share His seriousness? When we go out and witness to non-believers, who are we witnessing for? A true and living Lord and Savior? Or just a theological persuasion? Is He the Lord of our everyday life? Or was He merely a great historical person to remember? When we accept wholeheartedly His identity as He revealed to us, how much richer will our worship and fellowship life be?
Prayer Requests:
For all children of God to experience deeper on a daily basis into the riches and glory of the presence of our Lord and Savior
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to redeem us out of Your grace. Holy Spirit, please help us understand clearly the reality and significance of the identity of our Lord Jesus so You may work in us to lead us closer to You. We pray that our walk with You will enable us to show Your grace and glory in this dark and twisted world so others may join us in exalting our Lord and Savor Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit because we pray in the wonderful name of Jesus, our Savor, Amen!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Finding Joy in God Again
Scripture: "David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might ..." (2 Samuel 6:14)
At the beginning of every year, I always look forward and think to myself, "I want a deeper relationship with God." It's sort of a "new year's resolution", but not really. But it is a goal as I reflect on the past year after the horns stop blowing, the punch is gone, pizza boxes lie empty and strewn across the living room and the clock ticks over to 12:01 AM on January 1st.
I know what it takes to draw closer to God: spend more time reading the bible, in meditation, prayer, listening to worship music; basically spending time with Him. But I've written over and over how life gets in the way.
But then something really great happened to me this year. I have rediscovered my passion for playing the drums ~ and not just playing the drums for the sake of playing them ~ but I get to play worship music ~ music for the Lord! And my passion only returned about a week ago. Before, I was just practicing. And sometimes I avoided it. But then something clicked in me, and I know in order to play for church on Sundays, I have to practice. No one cares how "good" I play. But I desire to do well, because I am on the Lord's business, a part of a team leading our church into worship. If I'm going to be a part of a bigger picture, I realize I'm going to need the Lord's help!
In finding my joy in playing again, I am experiencing a rebirth of my relationship with God. I listen to CDs, I practice playing to them, I sing along as I play, and I feel the lyrics and the music permeate every fiber of my soul, and I LOVE it!! And boy do I PRAY!
I feel my relationship with God growing stronger as I spend more alone time with Him, listening to edifying music and rehearsing with my band mates. I was given a gift beyond playing drums for my church, which is something I always wanted to do. But I feel God fulfilled my desire to draw closer to Him by helping me focus on something I could draw closer to Him with.
So I share this experience with you, because I would like to encourage you to ask the Lord to show you something in your life you can focus on and develop a stronger relationship with Christ. I would have never thought playing drums would uplift my spirits and draw me closer to Him.
Oh, the joy David must have felt when he danced for the Lord!! Unhindered in his worship, abandoned to the moment. What a glorious moment! No one wants to see me dance. Or hear me sing. Believe me. But I hope to be the best drummer God wants me to be.
Prayer: Lord, help us to find that "special something" in our lives that we can turn our focus to you daily. Help us to make time for You and strengthen our relationship with You. Help us to find that JOY in You, that we once had when we first became Christians. Help us to find our passion in You once more. Amen.
At the beginning of every year, I always look forward and think to myself, "I want a deeper relationship with God." It's sort of a "new year's resolution", but not really. But it is a goal as I reflect on the past year after the horns stop blowing, the punch is gone, pizza boxes lie empty and strewn across the living room and the clock ticks over to 12:01 AM on January 1st.
I know what it takes to draw closer to God: spend more time reading the bible, in meditation, prayer, listening to worship music; basically spending time with Him. But I've written over and over how life gets in the way.
But then something really great happened to me this year. I have rediscovered my passion for playing the drums ~ and not just playing the drums for the sake of playing them ~ but I get to play worship music ~ music for the Lord! And my passion only returned about a week ago. Before, I was just practicing. And sometimes I avoided it. But then something clicked in me, and I know in order to play for church on Sundays, I have to practice. No one cares how "good" I play. But I desire to do well, because I am on the Lord's business, a part of a team leading our church into worship. If I'm going to be a part of a bigger picture, I realize I'm going to need the Lord's help!
In finding my joy in playing again, I am experiencing a rebirth of my relationship with God. I listen to CDs, I practice playing to them, I sing along as I play, and I feel the lyrics and the music permeate every fiber of my soul, and I LOVE it!! And boy do I PRAY!
I feel my relationship with God growing stronger as I spend more alone time with Him, listening to edifying music and rehearsing with my band mates. I was given a gift beyond playing drums for my church, which is something I always wanted to do. But I feel God fulfilled my desire to draw closer to Him by helping me focus on something I could draw closer to Him with.
So I share this experience with you, because I would like to encourage you to ask the Lord to show you something in your life you can focus on and develop a stronger relationship with Christ. I would have never thought playing drums would uplift my spirits and draw me closer to Him.
Oh, the joy David must have felt when he danced for the Lord!! Unhindered in his worship, abandoned to the moment. What a glorious moment! No one wants to see me dance. Or hear me sing. Believe me. But I hope to be the best drummer God wants me to be.
Prayer: Lord, help us to find that "special something" in our lives that we can turn our focus to you daily. Help us to make time for You and strengthen our relationship with You. Help us to find that JOY in You, that we once had when we first became Christians. Help us to find our passion in You once more. Amen.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A New Creation
Scripture:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor 5:17).
A mulligan is a golf term which allows a player to play a second shot off the first tee if the first shot is poor. It's a second chance to get a fresh start without penalty.
Sometimes in life we need a mulligan - a new start. Christ represents the invitation to throw away our first life and begin anew with Him as a new creation.
The Promised Land represented a new life for the people of Israel who had lived a life of bondage and slavery in Egypt. It is also symbolic of a new life in Christ. It says we are no longer going to be driven by the appetites of our old nature, but Christ now lives in us to live a righteous and holy life. It does not mean we're perfect, we're just forgiven.
The new life in Christ has nothing to do with church attendance or even doing good things. Christ said there will be many people who will claim Him as their Savior but they never really knew Him. In other words, there was no evidence of the living Savior in them. "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matt 7:22-23).
Jesus invites everyone to partake of the new life He offers. We only must believe, invite him to remove our sins and allow Him to live as Lord through our lives. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me?" (Rev 3:20).
If you've never had a mulligan in life, now is the time to let Jesus give you a brand new start. Ask Him for that new start today.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus you have made all things new for us. Thank you for that. Thank you that we can have a close relationship with you and be filled with your joy. Amen
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor 5:17).
A mulligan is a golf term which allows a player to play a second shot off the first tee if the first shot is poor. It's a second chance to get a fresh start without penalty.
Sometimes in life we need a mulligan - a new start. Christ represents the invitation to throw away our first life and begin anew with Him as a new creation.
The Promised Land represented a new life for the people of Israel who had lived a life of bondage and slavery in Egypt. It is also symbolic of a new life in Christ. It says we are no longer going to be driven by the appetites of our old nature, but Christ now lives in us to live a righteous and holy life. It does not mean we're perfect, we're just forgiven.
The new life in Christ has nothing to do with church attendance or even doing good things. Christ said there will be many people who will claim Him as their Savior but they never really knew Him. In other words, there was no evidence of the living Savior in them. "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matt 7:22-23).
Jesus invites everyone to partake of the new life He offers. We only must believe, invite him to remove our sins and allow Him to live as Lord through our lives. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me?" (Rev 3:20).
If you've never had a mulligan in life, now is the time to let Jesus give you a brand new start. Ask Him for that new start today.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus you have made all things new for us. Thank you for that. Thank you that we can have a close relationship with you and be filled with your joy. Amen
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Not Crushed .. Abandoned .. or Destroyed
Scripture: We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)
Often, I admit, I have fallen into despair about how God is being shoved out of every area possible in our country. There are fights every year on how "offensive" the Nativity Scene is during the Christmas season, how Christmas trees became "holiday trees", how a cross located anywhere in public off of church property is considered contemptible.
Then I read this scripture, and realize, 'hey, wait a second. No one said being a Christian was going to be easy.' We have much to be thankful for, despite what we see happening around us. Despite the bad, "...we are not crushed ... not driven to despair ... never abandoned by God ... are not destroyed ... "
It often feels to me like we are a small but mighty group, us Christians. We collectively are "David" going up against "Goliath". What were the odds when such a small boy took his lowly sling shot and hefted a stone towards his giant enemy? I get so lost in the shadow of the enemy that stands before me. I see the cold, hard hatred in his eyes, the curl of his lip, the size of his arms and legs. My knees turn to water. My heart grows faint with fear.
If only I could always remember Who is ultimately in control! Others may want to do away with Christians and all our symbols, beliefs, indeed, our existence. But God has seen it all from beginning to end, all the good, the bad and the reprehensible. And us? We can rest in the fact that we might be rubbed out of existence, but we will ALWAYS be with HIM.
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell". (Matthew 10:28) How can I, a Christian, forget even for a moment Who is in control? No matter what happens for better or worse, my Lord is always consistent, always faithful.
I don't know what this new year has in store for us, but I'm going to try not to lose sight of the fact that God is above any "Goliaths" in our lives. Whether Goliath is a symbol of persecution or personal struggles, our LORD is in control. He's steering this ship we call "life" and we should hang on and trust He knows where He's going - because I can assure you, you don't want to miss a chance to be with Him even for a moment!!
Prayer: Lord, as a new year is upon us, help us each to strengthen our resolve to walk closer to You, to take every action possible to make this a reality, and not to concern ourselves with the darkness that sometimes seems to be closing in. YOU are the light of the world, never changing and always present! Like David, help us to stand firm, look Goliath straight in the eyes and not fear what we do next, because You are on OUR side, and You will always see us through. Amen
Prayer request: Pray for those who have walked away from God due to various heart aches and disappointments they have suffered. Pray that the Lord will soften their hearts and draw them back to Him once more.
Often, I admit, I have fallen into despair about how God is being shoved out of every area possible in our country. There are fights every year on how "offensive" the Nativity Scene is during the Christmas season, how Christmas trees became "holiday trees", how a cross located anywhere in public off of church property is considered contemptible.
Then I read this scripture, and realize, 'hey, wait a second. No one said being a Christian was going to be easy.' We have much to be thankful for, despite what we see happening around us. Despite the bad, "...we are not crushed ... not driven to despair ... never abandoned by God ... are not destroyed ... "
It often feels to me like we are a small but mighty group, us Christians. We collectively are "David" going up against "Goliath". What were the odds when such a small boy took his lowly sling shot and hefted a stone towards his giant enemy? I get so lost in the shadow of the enemy that stands before me. I see the cold, hard hatred in his eyes, the curl of his lip, the size of his arms and legs. My knees turn to water. My heart grows faint with fear.
If only I could always remember Who is ultimately in control! Others may want to do away with Christians and all our symbols, beliefs, indeed, our existence. But God has seen it all from beginning to end, all the good, the bad and the reprehensible. And us? We can rest in the fact that we might be rubbed out of existence, but we will ALWAYS be with HIM.
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell". (Matthew 10:28) How can I, a Christian, forget even for a moment Who is in control? No matter what happens for better or worse, my Lord is always consistent, always faithful.
I don't know what this new year has in store for us, but I'm going to try not to lose sight of the fact that God is above any "Goliaths" in our lives. Whether Goliath is a symbol of persecution or personal struggles, our LORD is in control. He's steering this ship we call "life" and we should hang on and trust He knows where He's going - because I can assure you, you don't want to miss a chance to be with Him even for a moment!!
Prayer: Lord, as a new year is upon us, help us each to strengthen our resolve to walk closer to You, to take every action possible to make this a reality, and not to concern ourselves with the darkness that sometimes seems to be closing in. YOU are the light of the world, never changing and always present! Like David, help us to stand firm, look Goliath straight in the eyes and not fear what we do next, because You are on OUR side, and You will always see us through. Amen
Prayer request: Pray for those who have walked away from God due to various heart aches and disappointments they have suffered. Pray that the Lord will soften their hearts and draw them back to Him once more.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Wonderful Reunion
Scriptures: “All this is from God, Who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God!” (II Corinthian 5:18-20)
Over this New Year holidays, I came across a TV program called The Locator. This is a program about a team of people who help others reunite with their loved ones. This program was founded by a gentleman by the name of Troy Dunn. Troy started his career as a private investigator. But, after he re-united his mother with her birth parents, he discovered the needs and the meaning of this task of locating people. So he set out to help people re-unite with their loved ones.
In one of the episodes I saw, a young girl and her high-school sweet heart had a baby girl before they got married. Because they were so young and not capable of taking care of the baby, they decided to give the baby away for adoption through a church. As a result, they were separated from the baby since then. Later, they went on to get married and had three other children.
But the separation from their first daughter remained a tender point in their lives. Even after years have gone by, when they heard that The Locator team could help them locate their long lost daughter, they went for it and were blessed to find that their daughter was never really that far away from them and that she has been doing well.
The joy of the scene of reunion reminded me of the scenes of reunions recorded in the 15th chapter of the book of Luke where the shepherd found the lost sheep; the woman found the lost coin, and the father was reunited with his prodigal son. Each of them similarly went through a period of separation and searching, and each of them was finally reunited with the long lost loved one in joy and celebrations.
I can’t help wondering why finding the lost loved one is so important to us. People lost things all the time. To some of them, we shrug our shoulder and move on. But, to others, we would go through every drawer and boxes, sometimes even getting search and recue team to go up and down the hills and valleys to find them. Why is there such a difference?
I suppose when the thing or people became a meaningful part of our lives, losing them is like creating a void in our lives which would drive us to find them to make us complete again. The greatest void in life would be the one created by the absence of God in our lives. I am convinced that, when Jesus gave the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son (Luke 15), He intended to tell the Pharisees and the Scribes the reason, the joy and the meaning of God’s desire to reunite with all lost souls.
The reunion means the void fulfilled, the broken/twisted relationship amended, and a joy that cannot be concealed. After the Apostle Paul was found by the Lord Jesus, his hatred for Christians was replaced with love and his ministry turned from persecution to evangelism. He experienced the joy of reunion with God first hand and fully understood God’s heart in bringing all back in reunion with Himself. But, before he implored us to be reconciled to God, he talked about the ministry and message of reconciliation that were given him. He considered himself and all his co-workers ambassadors of Christ, bearing the message of reconciliation to this lost world, through whom God made His appeal for reunion.
In many ways, Paul and his co-workers were just like the Locator team. The difference is the work of Paul and his team has eternal impacts that bring joy to both heaven and earth. As we stand at the beginning of a new year, a new decade, I wonder if you have a new-year resolution for the year 2010? What impact would your new-year resolution have on you? For this year? For the rest of your life? How about making it one for eternity? I am sure you will find the joy of helping people reunited with God is beyond all our understanding, Be a locator for God and have a fruitful year!
Prayer Requests:
For those suffering from separation from their loved ones
Prayer:
Our loving God, thank You for sending Your Son to be our Savior and for sending Your Spirit to find and reunite us with You. Now that we have been made anew, help us to be Your instruments in bringing other people into reunions with You for we know nothing pleases You more than the lost being found. Help us to be bold and wise as we share the good news of our Lord Jesus because we pray in His mighty name, Amen!
Over this New Year holidays, I came across a TV program called The Locator. This is a program about a team of people who help others reunite with their loved ones. This program was founded by a gentleman by the name of Troy Dunn. Troy started his career as a private investigator. But, after he re-united his mother with her birth parents, he discovered the needs and the meaning of this task of locating people. So he set out to help people re-unite with their loved ones.
In one of the episodes I saw, a young girl and her high-school sweet heart had a baby girl before they got married. Because they were so young and not capable of taking care of the baby, they decided to give the baby away for adoption through a church. As a result, they were separated from the baby since then. Later, they went on to get married and had three other children.
But the separation from their first daughter remained a tender point in their lives. Even after years have gone by, when they heard that The Locator team could help them locate their long lost daughter, they went for it and were blessed to find that their daughter was never really that far away from them and that she has been doing well.
The joy of the scene of reunion reminded me of the scenes of reunions recorded in the 15th chapter of the book of Luke where the shepherd found the lost sheep; the woman found the lost coin, and the father was reunited with his prodigal son. Each of them similarly went through a period of separation and searching, and each of them was finally reunited with the long lost loved one in joy and celebrations.
I can’t help wondering why finding the lost loved one is so important to us. People lost things all the time. To some of them, we shrug our shoulder and move on. But, to others, we would go through every drawer and boxes, sometimes even getting search and recue team to go up and down the hills and valleys to find them. Why is there such a difference?
I suppose when the thing or people became a meaningful part of our lives, losing them is like creating a void in our lives which would drive us to find them to make us complete again. The greatest void in life would be the one created by the absence of God in our lives. I am convinced that, when Jesus gave the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son (Luke 15), He intended to tell the Pharisees and the Scribes the reason, the joy and the meaning of God’s desire to reunite with all lost souls.
The reunion means the void fulfilled, the broken/twisted relationship amended, and a joy that cannot be concealed. After the Apostle Paul was found by the Lord Jesus, his hatred for Christians was replaced with love and his ministry turned from persecution to evangelism. He experienced the joy of reunion with God first hand and fully understood God’s heart in bringing all back in reunion with Himself. But, before he implored us to be reconciled to God, he talked about the ministry and message of reconciliation that were given him. He considered himself and all his co-workers ambassadors of Christ, bearing the message of reconciliation to this lost world, through whom God made His appeal for reunion.
In many ways, Paul and his co-workers were just like the Locator team. The difference is the work of Paul and his team has eternal impacts that bring joy to both heaven and earth. As we stand at the beginning of a new year, a new decade, I wonder if you have a new-year resolution for the year 2010? What impact would your new-year resolution have on you? For this year? For the rest of your life? How about making it one for eternity? I am sure you will find the joy of helping people reunited with God is beyond all our understanding, Be a locator for God and have a fruitful year!
Prayer Requests:
For those suffering from separation from their loved ones
Prayer:
Our loving God, thank You for sending Your Son to be our Savior and for sending Your Spirit to find and reunite us with You. Now that we have been made anew, help us to be Your instruments in bringing other people into reunions with You for we know nothing pleases You more than the lost being found. Help us to be bold and wise as we share the good news of our Lord Jesus because we pray in His mighty name, Amen!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)