God, I am valuable to You.
You pursued me, found me, and rescued me from
the darkness surrounding my life.
I am grateful for Your goodness and unfailing love!
Series: “Eyes to See and Ears to Hear”
If I asked you the question, “What are you pursuing?”- how would you answer? Would you have a list a mile long? Would it be specific or more broad? Have you given much thought to it at all? Whether we realize it or not, we are all searching for something. Our energy will go into those areas of our life that we deem urgent, necessary or important. These ambitions tend to change depending on our age or season of life. If we aren’t paying attention, we may wake up one day and realize we have spent most of our time chasing or pursuing only temporary pleasures.
Each new decade has had me longing for or desiring something. From a college degree or a successful career, to a husband, having children, or buying a home; all of of these things have been at the forefront of my list of wants. Although all of these pursuits were significant, there was one paramount, eternal relationship I was missing. Why had I never considered knowing Jesus as my deepest passion? His love for us can not be compared to any other love. His desire for us to know Him is unparalleled. His pursuit of us is relentless and real. He has His priorities in order. Do we?
Let’s look at the parable Jesus taught about the lost sheep in chapter 15 of the Gospel of Luke:
“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 15:4-7)
If your soul stirs upon reading this passage, you aren’t alone. The possibility of being rescued by Christ, the idea of Him looking for you, pursuing you in your darkest place, and then choosing the “just right” moment to lift your head and say “You are found, rejoice with me!” He will find you. Will you allow Him to carry your burdens, your hurts, and your sorrows upon His shoulders? Will Heaven resound in joy to welcome you into the family of God? Wow! How deeply I needed Him, and yet never truly knew it until I was found. Make no mistake, I did my fair share of hiding behind bushes, walls, and opportunities this world offered me. I chose to believe lies over His truth, time and time again. Any other would have given up long ago – but God isn’t like us. He doesn’t give up, He doesn’t relent, and He never turns His back on the one who calls out to Him. Jesus. Jesus. He truly does make the darkness tremble.
If you are still running, still searching, or perhaps reaching for the pleasures of this world, it will never be enough. You may not know why you are getting tired or frustrated or angry. Pursuing everything in our own strength is difficult and drains our souls. We weren’t meant to endure all this world has for us – alone. We were created by God to have a relationship with Him; to seek His kingdom and to allow Him to help us in this life we have before us. We need His peace, His strength and His shoulders to rest upon. With Him all things are possible. He makes a way for us to find comfort and safety.
Do you believe Jesus would leave the 99 for you? Are you the ‘one’ He is ready to rescue today? Will you follow Him, trusting His way is best? Can you stop the striving and start living? Let Him lift your head, wash you with His grace, and may all of Heaven resound with Joy!
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Luke 15:4-7; Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 19:10; Jeremiah 29:13; Romans 6:23; Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:6; Isaiah 41:10; 1 Peter 5:7
