THE PURSUIT OF TREASURE
“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? 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.’ 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: 4-7 (NIV)
My grandmother was known for her southern cooking and 12-layer cakes. When my grandmother passed away, she left her recipe book to my mother. It’s a treasure trove of casseroles, homemade biscuits and other southern comfort foods. Some of the pages are dotted with grease stains, some with faint smears of sauce, and all penned in my grandmother’s handwriting. Recently, my mother decided to try her hand at one of the recipes. She went to the shelf to pull out the recipe book, fumbling past her collection of Southern Living magazines, but the recipe book was gone. In a panic, she began searching through cabinets and drawers, under blankets and couch cushions, but still couldn’t find it. Weeks passed, and she continued to search. One evening as she was climbing into bed, she noticed the corner of a book poking out from under the bed. The recipe book! Tears welled up in her eyes, and she breathed a sigh of relief that her treasure had been found.
The Bible teaches us that the Lord pursues those who are lost. We are His sheep, His greatest treasure. He knows each of us intimately, and He desires for all to come to faith in Him. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10 NIV).” You are never too far from His reach, and nothing can separate you from His love.
APPLICATION: Think about your most prized possession. How would you feel if it were lost? To what lengths would you go to find it? Thank the Lord for pursuing you and loving you perfectly.
PRAYER: Father, I am humbled by Your great love for me. Thank You for pursuing me and paying the ultimate price to save my life. Please forgive me when I fail You and help me not to stray from You. I commit my life to You and give You honor and praise for Your faithfulness. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?