A BIT LOST SOMETIMES?

  Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. (KJV)

We were staying in a holiday cottage way out in the country with a small wood behind the house. Our seven year old son had the 'spirit of explore and wandering off' come on him and he wandered off  into the wood on his own, which we hadn't realised.   We suddenly thought where is he?  Looked round the cottage - no Graham. Garden - no Graham.  We ran out into the wood calling and searching until we found him. We'd all had a bit of a scare because he'd got a 'bit lost' and couldn't find his way back to the cottage. There was great relief and joy when we found him!

Luke 19:1-11 tells about a man called Zacchaeus. Jesus knew where he was so He went to meet him where he was because He knew he was 'lost'.  Zacchaeus had become lost in the world of finance, to the degree he was cheating others to get what he wanted. But Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus and wanted to get a look at Him. When they both met, Zacchaeus became a changed person, he wasn't lost anymore. Jesus found and restored him to what he was meant to be.

If we're not careful it's easy to 'wander off' into different things and get a bit lost.  We've just gone off into the wood to explore! It may seem innocent enough, too much media, too much hobby, even too much time doing good works, or whatever it might be, but it causes us to be distracted and it takes our eyes off  Jesus and before we know it our desire for the things of God is not as strong as it once was. Then we start with some negative thoughts and before you know it we can find ourselves on a path in the woods we don't want to be on, feeling a 'bit lost'  Or sometimes we've wandered off so far we don't even realise it.

But the  great news is that Jesus is always calling us back and in fact we're only one step away from Him.  

He knows exactly where we are and comes to meet us where we are. 

He wants us to come back and spend time with Him, and get our focus back on His kingdom and way of doing things; that's the place of love and acceptance, of right standing with Him, a place of peace and joy and protection.  

If we're honest we've all known times of wandering off so if you're maybe  feeling like that today then why not join with me in this prayer:

Lord You know where I am and You meet me where I'm at.  I'm sorry for wandering off and putting other things in front of You, please bring me back right now to that place of safety in You and help me to stay focused on Jesus and restore me so I remember who and where I'm meant to be 'in Him'. Thank You Lord.

Maybe you're reading this and you've never met Jesus yet. Can I tell you He knows where you are and He's right there with you now and wants you to believe He died in your place, took all your sin away and forgives you if you'll ask Him to. Why not come off the 'lost list' and make Him your Lord and Saviour today?  If you would like to, then pray this prayer with me

Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God and that You died to take away my sin. Please forgive me for my sin and I turn away from it right now. I believe You rose again from the dead.  I make you my Lord and Saviour. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit in Jesus Name. Amen.