LOSTnFOUND

Lost n Found?

Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
( Now Isn’t that interesting All of Heaven rejoices at the salvation of one soul, but many of us on the other hand. We tend to gripe and complain, we question when someone is saved. Are they really saved? are they really sincere? Why them of all people? )
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
( Ever wonder why in many places the bible saids a certain individual? God takes notice when we don’t, he cares when we won’t, he sees who were not willing to see. )
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. **And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. *
( Hum I wonder if I ever try to run away from life? from responsibilities? from daddy’s house? from my conscience?)
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
( Have you ever notice the pattern? You make it only to lose it, make it only to spend it up, maybe the importance lies in where you spend it, how you spend it. There’s a consistent routine and consequence in life that goes with sin and selfish living. When you live for the temporal pleasures of the flesh you reap from the eternal pain of folly! In the end you lose it all, health, family, friends and finances but hopefully not your faith for therein is your hope! Never forget that)
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! *
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
( Now that’s the spirit. Notice first he realizes that he didn’t only sin against his father, but primarily against his God! You see when we hurt and sin against a brother, sister or self. It is a direct offence against God, and when we too are willing to humble ourselves he will exalt us. After all isn’t servanthood what it’s all about? We should be willing to serve no matter what capacity or position we find ourselves in. )
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. *
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music
and dancing.(he heard rejoicing, he heard praise, heard the sound of worship & it bothered him? see vs. 28)
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 **And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
(in other words u can party anytime u want, yet all you do is mope and grope. Some of us are like that in the Church yes we are in fathers house but we seldom choose to celebrate it or rejoice? shout praises or worship, dance in the isles or clap our hands all cuz we are stuck in jealousy or apathy )
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

REFLECTIONS AND THOUGHTS:   Ever ran away from home? ever tire of the rules and regulations? This is an interesting story there is more here than meets the eye. Lets try taking another look at the rich insights and characters in this story. Notice it saids the son took his money and ran or something like that. One thing is for sure he was drawn away from the comfort and security of Daddy’s house! Wonder what it was that drew him. Could it have been the envy he had for the friends he knew who had wandered from daddy’s home and found their thrill in the city’s of sin and valley’s of fleshly pleasure. Or was it perhaps the lure and anticipation of the wandering eye and discontented heart, or was it the craving for longed for freedom, fame, fortune and fun.
Did you know you can leave daddy’s home and still be there physically? Some people leave home, the Church and even their marriages not so much in body as they do mentally, emotionally, financially, spiritually and even relationally. Its like that in Church too. Oh were there bodily, we go through the motions, we sing the songs, do the dance, run the isles, repeat our traditional prayers, yet inside we are empty and missing that vital ingredient called the joy of relationship!
Now let’s look at the son, Did you notice it said when he came to himself? That’s just it sooner or later you have to come to the place where you finally realize where you are and who you are!
( a child of God, a child of the king) You have to realize that the blame is yours, and that you need help from a source greater than you. That there is a God greater than your obstacles, realize that you are a servant not a lord. I wonder if perhaps the son came to himself when he thought on the scriptures and not his circumstances?
Like say Psalms 51:   A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone into Bathsheba in sin Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.   3   For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
( for to acknowledge is to confess and to confess is to be forgiven! “for God is faithful and just to forgive if we confess“ Yes sooner or later we must accept the fact that we have sinned and done wrong, quit playing Church. Quit playing the part, quit hiding behind our prayers, our friends, our position, our finances. This is something we should all know and learn from.
Let me confess here in hopes that my readers might gain from my experience and lost. I did this for much to long and I hurt much to many people in the process. Sadly I am not the only one who has had to pay for my foolishness. Hence we should realize the consequences of our selfish actions are far greater than we imagine and they effect more people than we think, in more ways than we think)

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me..”
( Though he was aware that he was born a sinner he also realize that it did not excuse him nor condone his sin, he realize that there was a God greater than his sin! A God who through faith could deliver him from the temptations of the flesh)
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; (It’s one thing to leave daddy’s house but quite another to be cast out!) and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
(ah the missing ingredient from so many relationships and homes) and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
( In other words they come back home to daddy’s house!)

Now lets take a look at the elder brother, Notice: He got mad, why? maybe we didn’t notice something said earlier in vs.12. It saids that the father gave them both their inheritance. So in other words they both got their share. So why is it he is so upset? Hum maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge, we do the same, we get mad because somebody else gets what they don’t deserve maybe if were not careful we might get what we deserve! Some folks get mad when someone else gets God and it don’t cost them anything, when someone gets the blessings. When someone who doesn’t fill our requirements gets what we already have, never mind that it doesn‘t cost us anything. Do we get mad because somebody we feel was not worthy of forgiveness has been given grace. Somebody who we feel is not sincere enough has been entrusted with more than us. Do we tend to regret that certain others are restored and reconciled though they have wasted Gods resources and taken for granted Gods blessings. Do we forget the purpose of grace! The meaning of mercy. Shouldn’t the elder son have been the example?

Now lets look at the Dad, Notice: When the son was yet a far way from home, his father saw him and ran to him. Isn’t that something, It’s as if the father was waiting for him all this time. Anticipating his return, longing for his son, hoping, praying, believing. Ah but maybe he knew something we tend to deny and miss? That God answers prayers and sees our tears, and moves on our behalf. Could it be that the father wept, worshiped and prayed daily at an altar in his home on behalf of his wayward son. And he waited and he waited and he waited for the return of that son, for the answer to that prayer!
He waited and finally when he saw his son returning. He ran to him with a heart full of Daddy’s love not doubtful resentment, daddy’s lips offered encouragement and gratitude not shame and ridicule. With arms stretched out in mercy to help not hurt . He ran to his son not with a finger pointed outward in accusation and condemnation saying I told you so. But with fingers curved inward welcoming him back into the mercy and love of daddy’s house. But isn’t that just like Daddy always willing to forgive an forget. always willing to restore and reconcile. At least that’ how daddy’s are suppose to be right? But then again that’s how love is suppose to be right? Are you waiting for your prodigal to come back? Are you praying, weeping, worshipping, anticipating, loving? Do you even care? Here’s some food for thought ‘ Don’t let where you are keep you from where your going!’

Prayer: Hallelujah! Glory to you Lord! For you are worthy to be praised! blessed be the name of the Lord! I adore and worship you. I thank you for being my big Daddy, For the times when I have strayed and you were always willing to welcome me back with loving kindness and tender mercies. My God you keep amazing me! How could you be so patient, so full of compassion, so longsuffering, how could you put up with so much from me? Never once did you offer me harsh words or criticism but you could have, you had a right to. Thank you Jesus! O how I love you! I just wish I could show and express that love through the things I desire, the thoughts I contemplate, the words I share with others, the lifestyle I live. Thank you for the sweet sound of worship and praise may I ever rejoice when I hear others worshipping you, thanking you. Father I pray that you will help me to never forget that I was once a prodigal child. Oh it may have been long ago, or maybe not to long ago, one thing is for sure ‘ Great is your faithfulness and your mercies endureth forever” Daddy I humbly ask please bring back home those who have strayed. The wayward, the backslidden, the unfaithful, the deceived, the hurting, the rejected. That we may once again rejoice with the host of heaven! Help us to weep over them, to care, to pray, to intercede on their behalf. Remind me that unto us is given the ministry of reconciliation. Father I love you! Thank you that there’s always Daddy’s house to come home to! That all I need is in Daddy’s house. Then again all I need is you! And I can come to you anywhere I may find myself, and anytime for that matter. So should I ever stray help me to remember that daddy’s presence is just a prayer away. Amen.

Prepared by Rev. George R. Nava 209-465-9731