11-7-2014

 Good Morning All,

          Luke 19:10; “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

       Frantic!! This can pretty much describe our house over the last couple of days.  We needed to do some updating on our insurance.  We went to log in and we couldn’t get in.  We went to get the file that had all of our information and we cannot find it.  So, frantically, we are searching.  Secretly, deep down, I think my wife thinks I lost it.  I am pretty sure I didn’t but will admit that my office is cleaner than it has been for a long time.  I searched my office pretty hard.  I think she isn’t sure that she didn’t misplace them; she searched all over as well.

     We found some papers that are four years old.  We found the pin number for one of our credit cards.  We threw a lot away, a couple of old catalogs, but we still can’t find the papers that we need.  I am pretty sure the papers are in a place that is safe so we won’t lose them just not sure where.

    Have you ever lost something and frantically looked for it?  Some papers, a bill or a check, perhaps; or maybe it was a person.  We can lose things; we can lose people.  Sometimes we find the lost articles but sometimes we don’t.  When we lose something of value, we search long and hard.  We may even mourn the loss. 

    You and I were lost.  We had strayed from God’s family and were lost.  We were so lost that we could never find our own way.  So God fixed it.  Jesus came into the world to seek the lost.  He came looking for us and he found us.  He found us in broken or damaging relationships.  He found us seeking after false gods that were leading us further and further from God’s love and mercy.  He found us as we were sitting alone, with no hope or future.     He found us wounded and defeated.  He found us living in slavery to the devil as the devil tormented us.  He found us, redeemed us and brought us home.  He has made us safe and gives us hope that we are no longer slaves to sin but are free to live the life that God has for us.

    My wife and I may very well have to give up looking for our papers and start over.  God never gives up.  He will find you; he will bring hope into your life.  He is speaking his words of salvation; he is holding you close to his heart.  He is clinging tightly to you; cling back for the safety that you seek.  Cling back for the peace that you desire.  Cling back for the comfort that you need.  God has found you.  You do not need to search for him; he calls you to himself through his Word and through his sacraments.  He finds you through Jesus and the Spirit continually seeks you out.  God has found you so that you would have hope.

Gracious Father, you find me when I am need of you the most.  You find me when I live in fear, in pain and in sorrow.  You give me hope, life and a comforting knowledge of salvation.  Give those who feel lost that certain knowledge and hope of salvation.  Give them the comfort they seek and the peace that they need.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret