The Vineyard Church

I was at an amusement park with my son Michael. He was three at the time and wanted to go down some giant slides designed like pirate ships. We had to do a lot of climbing and crossing nets and planks to reach the one he was interested in traveling down. To my surprise, adults could not follow. The only way I could catch him at the bottom was to return the way I came. Without warning, Michael went flying down the slide. I began to run to get to the bottom only to find out that he had vanished. I was surrounded by a sea of people and my son was gone, nowhere to be seen.

When I read the stories in Luke 15 about lost coins, lost sheep and a lost son, I am reminded of the heart of the Father. God’s nature is always to restore and care for what is lost. The details, reasons and mistakes fade away when we focus on the nature of the Lord whose biggest concern is retrieving what is His. It doesn’t matter if he has a hundred sheep, a bank-load of coins or 11 kids…The Father relentlessly seeks to find and then rejoice over the one found: “Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:24).

We are to be imitators of this relentless pursuit. Whether it is a family member, a friend or a stranger, we are called to find what is lost. As Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:4, “We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” God wants us to have His same heart. Paul stresses this as he attempts to encourage those he is ministering to: “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory" (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

Paul clearly understood what it meant to have a Father’s heart for the people. He stresses his concern as he decides to send Timothy back to check on the Thessalonians to make sure all is well and none are lost: “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith” (1 Thessalonians 3:9-10).

When I found my son that day, it was a time of rejoicing. I was ready to celebrate him being safe in my arms again. Whatever has happened in your life, understand that the Father’s only concern is to get you back. God’s love is not diminished by you getting lost in the process. It is not in the Lord’s nature to ever be disillusioned with you. He has seen the end from the beginning. He has always been there for you and always will be. The Father’s desire is to celebrate your return.

Blessings,
Rebecca