The Value of the Lost

It's pretty neat how God can weave a particular theme through your day (or week or longer). I totally interpret this as one of his ways of communicating with me. Thursday was one such day. In the morning I started reading a book and the introduction encouraged me to read Luke 15 which I did and spent quite a bit of time reflecting on it. If you are at all familiar with this chapter you will know that it is about the lost.

And that is what I am pondering, the lost. Being lost, the value of the lost, the pursuit of the lost and the priority of the lost.

In the opening pages of this book, the author is talking about the typical types of outreach that we as a church have poured so many dollars into and so many man hours for very little results. We have our concerts and celebrations which really only get us (the church) excited. They end up being events for us and by us. This is reminding me why I am not fond of this big "Celebration 2005" (I'm not sure what it is called) spectacle that evangelical churches across Canada are preparing for (don't get me started!).

Anyway back to Luke 15...here you have the religious leaders questioning Jesus about spending time with sinners. Jesus in response tells them three stories all with a similar theme. The lost.

He is willing to leave the safe, and turn things upside down to look for the lost. I love this. It tells me God will over haul ever thing, make changes, cause disruption to rescue the lost. When the lost come home we waits in anticipation embracing their filth and throwing parties at their return.

The question for me to ponder was, "what (or who) is God's priority?"

So...for those of us who are walking with God and enjoying his safety, did you ever think that we may not be His first priority? Maybe before we plan our next church program, function or ministry we should think about that.

It's time our ministries ceased to be run by the church for the church. It's time we made those outside of our fellowship our priority. We need to stand undivided as a united force and make God's priority our priority. Then maybe we will begin to see things happen.

__________________________________________________

I pondered on these thoughts as the day progressed. Later in the afternoon, Julia wanted me to do some puzzles with her (actually watch her). She is passionate about mastering each one and is fascinating to watch. Within 30 mins. she had completed half a dozen puzzles. To give her one more I pulled off a princess puzzle from the shelf which I hadn't seen her do since we moved here. When she saw me reach for it she remarked, "No mommy, that one has a piece missing." Not only did she remember there was a piece missing, she knew it was princess Jasmine's face.

I suggested she do the puzzle anyway and we would look for the missing piece. We looked everywhere, turning things upside-down and inside out. She went on to finish her puzzle while I continued to search. Eventually I found it and called Julia to where I was. I revealed the missing piece from behind my back and she was ELATED!!! She began to squeel and laugh and jump up and down and hug me with excitement. "You found it you found it"!!

In that moment I was reminded of the value of the lost to the one who lost it.

Concerts, rallys, campaigns and camps (whatever term fits your situation) they get us excited and pumped with very little long lasting effects. Eventually the excitement wears off and we go back to the norm.

Try just being a friend. Try getting into your community, being a community. Open your home...open your heart.