The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "LOST AND FOUND" for Monday, 10 October 2016 with Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "LOST AND FOUND" for Monday, 10 October 2016 with Scripture: Ephesians 2:1 You used to be dead because of your sins and acts of disobedience. 2 You walked in the ways of the ‘olam hazeh and obeyed the Ruler of the Powers of the Air, who is still at work among the disobedient. 3 Indeed, we all once lived this way — we followed the passions of our old nature and obeyed the wishes of our old nature and our own thoughts. In our natural condition we were headed for God’s wrath, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy and loves us with such intense love 5 that, even when we were dead because of our acts of disobedience, he brought us to life along with the Messiah — it is by grace that you have been delivered. 6 That is, God raised us up with the Messiah Yeshua and seated us with him in heaven, 7 in order to exhibit in the ages to come how infinitely rich is his grace, how great is his kindness toward us who are united with the Messiah Yeshua. 8 For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but God’s gift. 9 You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast. 10 For we are of God’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.
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If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?[Matthew 18:12 (NRSV)]
I have a special place in my heart for those who have been convicted of breaking the law. I must have “inherited” it from my father. He worked with people who had been either on probation or incarcerated. He was strict with them, yet caring. He talked with them and tried to help them to change, to get “clean” and begin to live purposeful and productive lives. My dad told me that most of the people he worked with came from dysfunctional families. All of them, especially teenagers, desperately want to be loved.
Maybe, in addition to my dad’s influence, I inherited this empathy from my heavenly Father. While we may see criminals as unworthy, God cares for them; after all, they too are created in God’s image and likeness. In spite of their lawlessness, God loves them and seeks them out.
Heaven rejoices when the lost are found. My family knows it firsthand; my brother was one of them. Even though we are all capable of sin, Jesus redeems us by his shed blood — a sacrifice that brings us God’s forgiveness. All of us who have lived outside God’s law can now live righteously and with purpose.
*“Amazing Grace,” words by John Newton, 1779.
The Author: Yulia Bagwell (Pennsylvania, USA)
Thought for the Day: “I once was lost but now am found.”*
Prayer: Compassionate God, we thank you for your loving heart. We want to love you in return by living according to your will. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER FELT LOVED
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