And so He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
The Lost Coin
“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin which I had lost!’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” - Luke 15:1-10
My soul has been distressed of late. My groanings certainly too deep for words at times in my prayer life. Often it may sound to God that I repeat some of the same prayers over and over.
I do attribute a portion of my emotional state to the Spiritual warfare that surrounds this blog. The rest I know is on me for some weakness on my part.
Details are unimportant. God's aware of what has been going on with my life. He always is aware. It is at His orchestration. No instrument in His ensemble ever is out of place when He is leading.
I do face a lot of struggles and stress. Especially in the last 4 months. Quite possibly longer in some respects. Nobody's gone through 2020 unscathed.
I am uncertain as to the silence of God in my prayers due to His continued use of me each morning here.
I imagine each major change in Joseph's life was hard to digest too. In 48 hours he went from having a home and working for his Father to being a slave in a caravan far from home.
In Heaven, Jesus says, that there is much celebration at the repentance of one person. Them turning to Jesus to be saved is I think a different celebration. Who tells them of this repentance happening must be Jesus. Nobody from Earth can possibly view the state of family and friends, people's and nation's from their lives with a Holy perspective since they have not yet been glorified.
Jesus said rejoicing is what happens when a sinner repents.
There's times when I am overwhelmed with life. Times when I feel like I am at my end. Times when my perception is so out of tune that finding which way is up is difficult.
At no point has my God forsaken me. I may not hear Him but He has never given up on me.
Life is not about personal joys and happiness. For a believer in Jesus Christ it's about becoming more like Him. A Christ-follower is a Disciple. One who sets their mind on becoming like the one they have pledged to follow.
I read that passage this morning and I have been wondering if there's been a time when I have caused Heaven to celebrate.
I can relate to Job's distresses. I can relate to the fears of King David in his writing the book of Psalms. I can connect with King Solomon. With Jeremiah in writing Lamentations. I seem to have a big connection with Joseph.
What is causing all this in me is me. It's my struggle to let go of what I am being shown that I have to let go of. I am no super Christian in writing what you read in this blog. I write as I am lead to write. If it means laying out my life in front of the world then that's what I write. Many Prophets if the Old Testament did the same.
The details are not important, it's how I react is what's important. How I obey is what is important. Psalms 23 seems to be relevant to all this as well. It's a very popular passage to soldiers in a foxhole under fire.
Indeed we can all be fooled by the successes of this world, by the way that the world acknowledges what we do, say or think. We can be fooled by the perceived riches acquired.
Prayer to God is about ourselves and others. It's the place to be honest and open about ourselves. Details can be used in a prayer but aren't necessarily needed on Jesus's end. He knows. We may indeed be going through what seems to be a valley of the shadow of death. The important part is His holding us in His hands. God always knows what He is doing even if I don't.
Those that know me, please don't ask for details either. This is a road that God has me on, not unlike others in my not so distant past that have been painful. Some Spiritual surgeries are just going to hurt.
Being real with yourself and God is my highest recommendation to all. Disguising your thoughts and intentions is the worst you will do. You will make the surgery worse. You are only fooling yourself, not Jesus.
Where do I go from here? Back to the basics. Back to what Jesus said. It's my advice for you as well. Even if you think all is ok, take heed lest you fall. Because life is replete with getting broadsided when you least expect it.
If you too are struggling, leave a comment, just saying "Me too." Both this blog and the other places it's posted allows for comments. Let others pray for you too. Satan loves to get believers to think they are all alone. He loves to make them believe that independence is the key. That you shouldn't share that you have struggled or are in need because of what family and friends or others might think of you.
Today is the first day of turning back to Jesus for some. That is reason to celebrate in Heaven.
No comments:
Post a Comment