What’s the most important thing you’ve ever lost?

Part of our mission at Faith Lutheran Church is to help create opportunities for people to connect within our community. I don’t just mean the church community, but also the community of Wesley Chapel and the surrounding areas. We want to help people to really feel like they are part of the community.

A Lost Child
One way we put our mission into practice this past year was to help support a monthly “Movie in the Park” put on by Pasco County in a local municipal park by giving out free freshly popped popcorn for the movies.

Towards the end of the movie the first time we did this we started to notice a commotion. Some people were getting up and walking around and making some noise. We went over to one of the people and found out one of the parents had lost their 6 yr old son. We joined the search.

People were going all around the park calling for the boy. We searched until the end of the movie and still hadn’t found him. His mom was in panic. Her precious child was lost. The police had been called. People continued to search.

And then we found him!

We were all excited he was safe and reunited with his family. It turns out he had walked to the front of the viewing area and was just watching the movie. He couldn’t hear the people screaming for him because the speakers were right near him.

The Lost Children
Jesus tells several parables about seeking that which was lost. Probably the most famous is the Good Shepherd who has 100 sheep. One lamb wanders off and the good shepherd goes after it and searches for it until he finds it. Then he binds its wounds and carries it home.

Jesus came to seek the lost. He came to seek out His people of Isreal and all His creation to heal them and bring them home. That includes you and me. We were lost in our sin, but Jesus sought us out and saved us. We didn’t seek Him, He sought us.

You are God’s precious child. Even though we often wander off, God seeks us and brings us home.

Dear Jesus,

You are the Good Shepherd. You care for Your flock and were willing to lay down Your life for them. Thank You for caring for us and seeking us, even when we don’t seek You.

Amen.