Search and Rescue 101

Being a lost sheep, a black sheep, is a distinction a number of us have experienced at different times in our lives. It’s usually a description of turbulent times, rebellious times of self will and defiant behavior. It can be a time of addiction and destructive life habits for some.

For others it can simply be a time of lostness in their own thoughts and emotions, even though the circumstances of life around them look stable and fine to others. How many stories have we heard in the news of seemingly successful and popular individuals who lost hope for reasons unknown to us and took their own lives. They were certainly lost ones in their circumstances.

Whatever picture most describes us, and our times of trouble, the solution is still the same. We need a power greater than ourselves to find us, rescue us, and carry us home to a safe and secure place. Jesus told a story, a very familiar story to many of us, to explain this.

Jesus told them this story: “If a man has 100 sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the 99 others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry at home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together, his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one loss sinner who repents and returns to God than over 99 others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away. “

Luke 15:3-7

Loving God, without you, we are wandering, lost in the wilderness of our own thoughts and circumstances. No matter how hard we try we admit that we often don’t know how to get to a place of peace and safety on our own.

Thank you for Jesus who has come into our world, put on flesh to be like us and walk through circumstances just like ours so He could demonstrate way forward for us.

Thank you that not only did he show away, but also gave his own life in payment for the consequences of our sin while we wandered and the harm, we did to ourselves and others in the process.

We put our trust in Jesus today. We give thanks today for his rescue and the great rejoicing in His heart as He does so.

Take away from us any lies of the evil one that would keep us in fear of condemnation for our mistakes rather than receiving the joyful rescue that Jesus has for us today.

Help us to believe you, Jesus when you say that there’s more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over 99 others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away.

We put our will in our lives into your care today and trust you to show us a good way forward. Amen

It’s so wonderful to know that we can come to God without hiding anything and know his great willingness to rescue us and set us on the right path. Let’s take that opportunity as often as we need to today and enter into the joy that Jesus promises.