2 Dec, 2010

Lost and Found

Today’s Story 

I got a Face Book message from a friend a few days ago telling me that on Saturday night, she and her husband were driving and ended up talking about God and religion.  I’ve been praying for my friend Cassie for over a year and knew that little by little she was being drawn to the Lord.  She shared that Saturday, in the car, she gave her heart to the Lord.  There wasn’t an altar call, she didn’t repeat a prayer after anyone, and no one told her what to say.  She just accepted the fact that she was lost without Jesus.  She found the Savior!

God’s StoryLuke 15: 1-7 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

(NIV)
What does today’s Scripture Story teach us about being lost and found?

Jesus loves us so much that he seeks to know us.  He cares about each of us as an individual.  He wants a personal relationship with you.  With me.  And He makes a big deal about us being found.

How can we connect today’s God’s Story scripture to our lives?

I should never take for granted what Jesus did on the cross for my sin.  Not only did He die for me, He took the abuse that was hurled at him.  The spitting.  The torment.  The pain.  All for me and my sin.  And yet while I was sinful, deliberately disobeying Him, Jesus searched for me.  He found me when I was lost in sin. 

 

I love verse 5 where is says “he joyfully puts (the sheep) on his shoulders”.  He carries me.  Because I’m worth something.  And my friends are worth something, too.  They need to know that God loves them and is looking for them to come to know Him personally.

 

I don’t remember a time when I told Cassie that she was lost.  I know I never said that she needed to get her life together and turn to the Lord.  I simply shared how much I need Jesus and the difference that He makes every day in my life.  The Holy Spirit does the drawing.  We simply tell what God has done for us.  It’s that easy!  It’s 3Story® 101.  And once you realize you’re lost, you’ll want to tell everyone Who you’ve found.

How can we connect today’s story, God’s Story scripture, and our story to others?
  • Are you pointing the people in your life towards the Shepherd?
  • Who on your wish list needs to hear from you today?
  • Sing the first verse of Amazing Grace.  Celebrate the fact that you were once lost, but now you’re found!
  • Share your story with someone today!
Comments

Ornament

The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.