October 23
Scripture focus: By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, "He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends." Their grumbling triggered this story.
"Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, 'Celebrate with me! I've found my lost sheep!' Count on it—there's more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.”
"Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors: 'Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!' Count on it—that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God." Luke 15:1-10 The Message
“The implications of accepting pain are significant in dealing with specific addictions, but they become massive in terms of our basic attitude toward life. In our society, we have come to believe that discomfort always means something is wrong. We are conditioned to believe that feelings of distress, pain, deprivation, yearning, and longing mean something is wrong with the way we are living our lives. Conversely, we are convinced that a rightly lived life must give us serenity, completion, and fulfillment. Comfort means ‘right’ and distress means ‘wrong.’ The influence of such convictions is stifling to the human spirit. Individually and collectively, we must somehow recovery the truth. The truth is, we were never meant to be completely satisfied.” Addiction and Grace, p.179.
Spiritual renewal isn’t a one-way ticket to our happy place.
It does, however, provide us with an expanded view of God.
It teaches us the value of one. It trains us to work hard (out of gratitude, not desperation for approval). It tells us what to value. It touches off a firestorm of celebrating when someone that was once lost – is found.
May we find our way back to God, a place where we may be distressed, but never forsaken.
2 comments:
By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. Today I count myself lucky to be one of these people. For my life discomfort is more times than not a chance for growth . I find my discomfort comes when my inside and outsides are in conflict with each other. In my limited understanding of His word, I have not been promised a comfortable life. I have read and been told that if I trust in Him my life will be more comfortable even when it is uncomfortable. I do have a question, Can someone be found who does not know they are lost?
"adversity reveals our inward strength, while prosperity softens our nature, and weakens our will."
"adversity tries the reins and proves the hearts of men."
(IV Fortunes and Misfortunes pg. 37&38-S.Levy)
oh, how painfully true. my heart is a heart of stone, and misshapen to boot. G-d is in the process of giving me a heart of flesh as I surrender, while yet dragging my feet. who knew a heart transplant could take a lifetime, and the patient not die on the table?
a.'nanny'mouse
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