Corona Devo 505

Be found by Jesus today.

How long has it been since we let the overwhelming, relieving, redeeming wave of God's forgiveness wash over us?

Perhaps so long that most days (now) we tend to sit in the Pharisees seat as we view others around us who are still on their way to meet Jesus, and we shake our heads in hypocritical distaste:

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. (2) This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! ~Luke 15:1-2

Are we impatient, intolerant, or condescending to such sinful people? Is it commonplace to catch ourselves complaining about others and their "notorious sin"? Would it be ridiculous for us to consider eating with them because we view ourselves as so much "better"?

Or maybe we are "them" today. On the outside of faith and forgiveness looking in. Seeing Jesus "at the table" with others, but feeling/sensing/lamenting/loathing that it could never be us.

Whether we are sitting in a hypocritical high-saddle today, or if we feel deemed to shovel the manure of life's stalls for the rest of our days: Jesus has a message for us.

So Jesus told them this story: (4) “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? (5) And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. (6) When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ (7) In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

(8) “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? (9) And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ (10) In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” ~Luke 15:3-10

His first message for us.

His last message for us.

His message for where we were yesterday in our faith, and His message for where we are today in our faith.

His message of love for us. A searching love. A redeeming love. A never-give-up until He reaches us love.

It should knock us out of our prideful saddle and down from our high spiritual horse as the realization of His love and our iniquity collide. And if we are buried in life's muck, His forgiving love is like a cleansing shower of fresh water and rose petals washing away a lifetime (or a season) of sinful grime and buildup.

Jesus loves us that much. That even though there are many around us that are saved (a hundred sheep), He will pursue us unrelentingly until we are found by Him. Jesus loves the ninety-nine others, but once found, he leaves them (us?) to go...search for the one that is lost (us?) until he finds it (Luke 15:4).

Be found by Jesus today. If we are sitting in the scoffing seat of the Pharisees, be found by Jesus. Remember that He still pursues a fresh connection with us each day and sometimes we must allow space for Him to leave us to go...search for the one that is lost (Luke 15:4).

Be found by Jesus today. If we feel pegged into the "notorious sinners" group, God's grace is bigger, and that is not a term ever used by Him. He calls us lovingly by name and tells parables of searching frantically for us, like a precious lost sheep or a valuable coin gone missing. Jesus will not rest until we are found by Him.

Be found by Jesus today.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com