Finding God

In Luke 15:4-6, Jesus said, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'" When just one of this man's sheep was lost, he dropped everything, left the other ninety-nine sheep alone in the field, and went to search for that one lost sheep. He didn't stop looking until he found that sheep. Then he rejoiced over it and called his "friends and neighbors" (v. 6) to come celebrate with him.

And again, in verses 8-9, Jesus said, "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!'" When this woman lost one of her coins she searched the house thoroughly seeking to find it. When she couldn't find it quickly she never gave up the search. She kept on looking. She looked everywhere. She lit a lamp to help her see better. She swept the house to make sure she didn't miss anything. She searched until she found it. Then she, too, called her "friends and neighbors" (v. 9) to come and rejoice with her.

What I want to point out here is the diligence with which these two people searched for that which was lost. They never gave up the search. They searched with all their heart until they found the very thing which they were seeking. You see, it's all about the heart; seeking diligently with the whole heart. If your heart is not in it, you will likely fail to find what it is you are seeking.

This leads us to our main text: "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:12-13). With these words God renewed His covenant with His people Israel. Verse 12 reminds them of His promise to them: "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." In exile in Babylon, the people will begin to seek after God. He promises here that when they turn again and pray to Him, He will "listen" (v. 12).

Although this promise was given specifically to the people of Israel while exiled in Babylon, the principle is universally true. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Again, it speaks about diligently seeking after God. God is real and He rewards "those who diligently seek Him" (v. 6b).

In Jeremiah 29:13, we are told that "you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." When you "seek" God (v. 13a) "with all your heart" (v. 13b) and you "pray" to Him (v. 12a), He will "listen" (v. 12b) and you will "find" Him (v. 13a). That is God's promise to you. Amen.

Grace Abounding

Psalm 103:8 says, "The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy." In verses 6-10, the psalmist focuses on God's character. Verse 8 falls right in the middle of those verses. Out of the Lord's loving nature, He acts on behalf of His people. God is merciful. He cares for those who are His.

"The LORD is merciful and gracious" (v. 8a). We are all sinners who are guilty and in need of the Lord's mercy. As the psalmist points out, God is both merciful and gracious. By His mercy He pardons sin. In legal terms, through mercy God stays the punishment of sin, even though we deserve that punishment. By His grace He grants us favors that we do not deserve. In both mercy and grace the Lord abounds.

"Slow to anger" (v. 8b). God can certainly be angry; angry with sin. He can reach out and punish the guilty with righteous indignation, but we are told that He is "slow to anger" (v. 8b). God is patient with us beyond measure: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). God is patient, giving space for repentance and plenty of opportunity to receive His mercy.

"Abundant in mercy" (v. 8c). God's anger is short-lived and never reaches into eternity, as far as believers are concerned. Rather, God is "abundant in mercy" (v. 8c). "Abundant" (v. 8c) means "overflowing." The Lord is rich in mercy and quick to shower His mercy upon us. "Mercy" (v. 8c) is translated from the Hebrew word hesed, which many a Bible scholar has written about. It is the Hebrew word for "love," and is sometimes translated "mercy, lovingkindness, loyalty." It could be rendered as "steadfast love."

Out of His steadfast love, God pours out His mercy upon us. Out of His steadfast love, God pours out His grace upon us. Both His mercy and His grace are showered upon us with abundance. Amen.

Get Involved in the Lord's Work

How do you "keep yourselves in the love of God" (v. 21a)? How do you continue "building yourselves up on your most holy faith" (v. 20a)? First, by spending time in the Lord's Word; second, by being in fellowship with the Lord's people; third, by praying in the power of the Holy Spirit; fourth, by supporting your pastor; and fifth, by getting involved in the work of ministry.

Part of supporting your pastor is helping in the work. He needs your help. He is there to train and lead. You are there to learn and do. If you are "looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (v. 21b), get involved in the Lord's work. Doing so takes saving faith and it is proof of such faith. If you have faith, use it, live by it, and do the Lord's work by it.

"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:4-5). And in verses 9-10 Peter added, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." That is the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. We all are to minster to one another.

Get involved in the ministry of your church. Be the Lord's workers. "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:11-12).

Your pastor trains you up according to your spiritual gifts, in order to involve you in "the work of ministry." But you must do the work of ministry—no one else can do the work God has for you.

So get to work! Study God's Word. Encourage one another in fellowship. Pray in the power of the Spirit. Support your shepherd, your pastor. Get involved in the work of the church. That is what the Christian life is all about. Doing these things proves your faith and you will receive "the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 21b). Amen.

Support the Lord's Servant

How do you "keep yourselves in the love of God" (Jude 21a)? How do you continue "building yourselves up on your most holy faith" (v. 20a)? First, by spending time in the Lord's Word; second, by being in fellowship with the Lord's people; third, by praying in the power of the Holy Spirit; and fourth, by supporting your pastor—always!

First Thessalonians 5:12-13 says, "And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves."

First Corinthians 16:15-18 says, "I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us. I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men."

Help your church shepherd—your pastor! Pray for him daily! Remember how Paul constantly asked for prayer support? Help your pastor in the Lord's work!

The writer of Hebrews warns: "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17-18).

Involvement in the Lord's work keeps you in touch with Jesus. It requires being in the Word, in fellowship, and in prayer. Help your pastor in the Lord's work. Amen.