“1, 2, 3..” As Jacquelyn counted, Allison ran through the house searching for a place to hide. I’ll be invisible here, thought Allison jumping into the hamper.
“Ready or not here I come,” shouted Jacquelyn. Sprinting around she scoured each room. In the bathroom she jerked open the linen closet ready to pounce on Allison. However, it was empty. Spying the shower, she yanked the curtain aside, but Allison wasn’t there.
Just as she crossed the bathroom threshold, she heard a faint “Hehe.” Slowly Jacquelyn snuck back in and looked around wondering, Where could she be? Quietly she opened every cabinet, but there was no Allison. Jacquelyn’s eyes grew wide, Ahh! There’s one place left! Grabbing the clothes hamper top, she threw it open. Up popped Allison!
WHERE CAN WE HIDE?
Do you have the perfect hiding place for hide and seek? Maybe Jacquelyn had a hard time finding Allison, but there is someone who always sees us; God. No matter where we hide or how far we roam, we can’t hide from God.
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there,
Psalm 139: 7-8
God not only knows where we are, He chases after us. Do you know the parable of the lost sheep? Jesus tells it in Luke 15: 1-7.
“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?”
Luke 15:4
Why would someone chase after one little lost sheep? After all, they wandered off all on their own. Could it be because the shepherd loves and values each of them?
When a shepherd finds his lost sheep, what does he do? Does he punish it or condemn the wandering creature to death? No! He throws a party! He’s so happy that his lost sheep is out of danger and in his care that he celebrates.
And when he finds it,
he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.
Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says,
‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep,’
Luke 15:5-6
WE ARE LIKE THE SHEEP
Like a loving shepherd, Jesus values each and every one of us, even when we feel like the black sheep of the family. Jesus sees us no matter where we hide. He loves us no matter how far we have wandered, no matter what we have done. We are never the black sheep to Him. Jesus waits with open arms to forgive and embrace us all, (1 John 1:9).
Jesus is not looking to punish or condemn us,
but to love, embrace us
and give us everlasting life,
(John :16-17).
OUR PARTY!
If the shepherd throws a party when he finds a lost sheep, imagine the party Jesus throws. When we turn away from misdeeds and put our faith in Jesus, He celebrates having us in His loving care. All of heaven, especially our loved ones up there, would be rejoicing! I bet they have a whole choir singing and dancing! It’s a party celebrating us and our new life!
“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,”
Luke 15:7
Jesus loves us so much that once we believe in Him, He will not let go. No one can snatch us out of His hand.
I give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish;
no one will snatch them out of my hand,
John 10:28 NIV
REFLECTION
Do you feel lost like the sheep?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Luke 15:7 and say it aloud, help me to know that You see me, value me and want me to be Yours. That it doesn’t matter how far that I have strayed, You still love me and will rejoice when I turn to You. In Jesus name. Amen.
JESUS SEES YOU
Comment!
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Photo black sheep, MUJANSCH
Photo sheep, cyrielle
Photo Jesus, kar3nt
