Rejoice in the Found

As I study this morning on the word “find(s)” I am brought to the parable of the lost sheep that Jesus tells to the tax collectors, sinners, Phaisees, and scribes.

“³So he told them this parable: ‘⁴What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? ⁵And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” ⁷Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’” – Luke 15:3-7 (ESV)

What I see this morning is the words used by Jesus to describe the reactions and emotion of the shepherd at finding the sheep. Notice that it is not celebration, but rather joy. The shepherd is joyful at the finding of the one sheep and calls on others to have joy with him. And this of course translates to the joy in heaven when one sinner repents.

I know what you might be thinking, “well isn’t there a celebration that the shepherd calls people to?”. Yes, you are right, there is a celebration, but that celebration is defined as an occasion of rejoicing, not simple celebration. There is a permanence to the joy and not a fleeting party. Parties come and go, but rejoicing is more long standing. Like a wedding, we attend to rejoice in the union that is to last and the reception comes later.

The LORD is out looking for His lost sheep, us. He is searching everywhere and exhaustingly so to find us and bring us into the family. Even as there are so many that have yet to be found, when one is, He rejoices and calls on others to rejoice with Him. We rejoice at the finding of just one and at the next and the next. The reunion of the lost with God is to be rejoiced.

What is your reaction and emotion when finding? Are you set out to celebrate and move on? What if you took time to rejoice at the reunion as God rejoices when the one is found?

Find Your Reward

Seek, seek, and keep seeking. Our reward will be found. We will receive that which we are due.

“²⁷For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” – Matthew 16:27 (ESV)

Here is the thing. I am sure everyone feels confident that we should be rewarded for the work we do. Well, we will. We will find our reward based on what we are due thanks to the actions we take. But, our reward may not be what we expect.

I first want to be sure and give the following disclaimer, we are not earning anything. We are judged and rewarded based on the work we do. But that work is not to earn our salvation, rather the work is because of our salvation.

“⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

We will be rewarded according to what we have done in this world based on the work that the LORD assigned to us before we were born again into the Family of God. He assigned us work that is revealed to us with our time and study of His word and our gaining of understanding. We don’t do the work to be rewarded, but rather we do the work because we are blessed to call Him LORD.

I would be remiss if I did not speak of the reward gained by not accepting the gift of salvation. Look back to verse 27 from Matthew chapter 16 above. Jesus says that repayment will be according to what is done. That repayment, for those who have not done the work assigned (as they will not know of it without salvation), will be judgment and casting into the lake of fire. Yes, we will all be judged, but those who have accepted salvation and turned to do the will of the LORD will be judged faithful and rewarded with a place in heaven. All others will be judged and cast out.

So, we will find our reward. We will be repaid according to our work that the LORD assigned to us and was revealed at our salvation and study of His Word.

What is your reward? Are you looking for payment of heaven based on the work your doing? What if you were to do the work assigned because of your reward of heaven thanks to the gift of salvation from the LORD?

Lose Your Life to Find It

I am sure that you are like me in that you wonder when God is going to come through for you and take away pain and provide relief. Well, have you ever thought that maybe He is waiting on you to fully obey Him.

“³⁹Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 10:39 (ESV)

This morning I am reminded that in order for me to get the life I always wanted, I have to give up what I want and take up the cross for Christ. I have to deny my own self and provide for the glory of the LORD, then and only then will I reach the heights I was meant.

“²³And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.’” – Luke 9:23-24 (ESV)

I do my best to not be concerned with myself and getting what I want. But, I have to say that it gets frustrating seeing others seemingly getting ahead and finding what appears to be an easy way of things and not getting that same thing myself. It is tough to see others enjoying the “finer things” all while I am doing what I can to get by. Even in my own home, I seem to give and give and give and yet receive very little other than that which is the norm.

But, that is just it. I am not called to receive. I am called to give. To give of myself for others and more/most importantly, to give to the LORD all of me. I am not to be looking for my own life and seemingly getting ahead in the eyes of others. I am to be giving all of myself to the LORD and to others. I am to take up the cross of Christ and carry it for Him. I am to place my own down and follow Him. It is not about me it is about Christ and the spreading of the gospel to all of those around me.

I know that I am here to do the work of Christ. I know that I am made for great things. I also know that it is not supposed to be easy. It is not supposed to get me anything specific in this world. I know that my joy is found in the joy that is the face of God. I work so that others can relax and enjoy. I give to Lori so that she feels the love I have for her. I provided for my boys so they could get on with life. I will gladly wear the same 7 shirts each week. I will gladly drive the 30 year old car. I will gladly give up for myself to ensure that the LORD is glorified. And in return, I will find life everlasting in the presence of the LORD in heaven.

What are you working for? Are you working to find your life? What if you were to forget about your own life and worked to provide for others and the LORD, knowing that you will find your life in the presence of the LORD?

Find an Excellent Wife

“¹⁰An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.”

— Proverbs 31:10 (ESV)

A bit challenging for sure to find an excellent wife. How can we know?

Finding an excellent wife is something that all of us are wanting. I know that I found one in Lori. As you look further into verses 10-31 of Proverbs 31, we see the qualities that make an excellent wife and Lori fulfills them.

You see it is about devotion to the LORD and to the husband and the household that make her excellent. Not that she is the crown jewel of physical beauty to others in the community. It is not that everyone sees her and some trophy at my side. It is not that she is at the forefront of every event or organization. It is simply her devotion to God, family, and home. Lori is all of those things and I tell people all the time that I am spoiled by her and having her as my wife.

We find our excellent wife by looking in the right places to start. We can find her in the house of the LORD. We can find her following in the patterns of her mother. We can find her actions as she is growing up. She is out there waiting for us, we only have to go looking for her.

I remember hearing growing up that I was the kind of man to marry, not to date. I was thoughtful and caring and measured. Not exciting or risky. I see the excellent wife as having similar qualities. She is the one who puts others before herself. She is more concerned with consistency and contentment than the thrill of what could be. She has beauty, beauty found in her love and care and devotion. These are the things of the excellent wife and when you look at the verses of Proverbs 31 this is what you will find.

Finding an excellent wife is not hard, it is just something that we have to seek. It is easy to look for a wife, but it takes patience, determination, conviction to find the excellent wife. We have to know where to look and what to look for and not just see what is on the outside. We can find the excellent wife when we look where God directs.

What is an excellent wife to you? Are you looking for the physical trophy wife to hang on your arm? What if you were to find the excellent wife that God has for you, the one who is caring and measured and is devoted to Him, you, and the household?

Find a Wife, It is Good

Of course finding a wife is good. Lori and I have been married for 29 years and I would not have it any other way. But what and why is it good has to be explored.

“²²He who finds a wife finds a good thing

and obtains favor from the Lord.”

— Proverbs 18:22 (ESV)

Here we see it in Proverbs. Being married to your wife is a good thing and God looks down on the relationship smiling. But why is God smiling? Because He made things this way.

“¹⁸Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit fore him.’” – Genesis 2:18 (ESV)

God recognized that man should not be alone. He should have a companion, a helper, a wife, to get along in this world. So, God made woman. But, He did not make her like every other beast of the earth. He made her from a part of man. She was created and brought specifically to man to be his companion, helper, wife to get along in this world.

“²¹So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. ²²And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.” – Genesis 2:21-22 (ESV)

God brought woman to man and consecrated the first marriage. And He smiled at what He had done.

Let’s go back to man finding a wife and it being good. You see, God created the first marriage between man and woman. He knew we needed a companion, a helper, a wife to get along in this world and so He made it happen. When we are out there in this world alone, we are missing out. We are meant to be with our wife. We are meant to find our companion. We are meant to find our helper. We are meant to find our wife to get along in this world and God knows it is good and will be smiling on the relationship.

I am blessed to have Lori in my life. I am blessed to have her to love. I am blessed to have her as my companion. I could not make it without her as my helper. I love her for who she is and who she is to me. I found my forever wife and God is looking down on us with favor.

What is your view of finding your wife? Are you seeing her as just something that is done? What if you see her as God’s purposeful good companion, helper, and wife to get along in this world?

Find Life and Peace

“³⁵For whoever finds me finds life

and obtains favor from the Lord,”

— Proverbs 8:35 (ESV)

Again, I am in chapter 8 of Proverbs which is titled “The Blessings of Wisdom”. Here we are hearing wisdom speak to us and we are gaining from her. Above, she tells us that when we find her, we find life and favor from the LORD. Boy is she correct.

You see, we are not defined by what is happening to you in the moment, it is how you deal with it and what happens next. We will all be subjected to things happening in our lives. Some of those will be good and some not so good. It is how we proceed next that defines us. We can choose to be defeated and act as such, or we can choose to just get on with things and realize that was just a moment and the next moment is yet to come.

When we choose defeat, we choose to be a victim. It is difficult to move forward when we are feeling sorry for ourselves. Yet, when we choose to get on with things and realize that moment of challenge as just a moment, we are moving forward with and in life.

Wisdom gives us life in that we are able to just move on with things realizing the moment. When found, wisdom provides our way forward and way through and way out. We are not sitting and dwelling on the defeat, we are moving on to the next. We find a life after and not just what we experienced before.

Wisdom also gives us peace. Peace to know that we are not stuck in whatever situation we are in. We have comfort in knowing that life goes on after. We are anxious for what is next, but we do not worry for what comes we accept it and move forward with it.

Lori and I have our son Aarron who is deployed with the US Navy. I have not seen him since Christmas and Lori has not since March. Are we concerned for him and his safety, yes. Are we worried for what is next, no. You see, this is the life he chose and we are wise enough to know that. We have met the challenge of the moment and look forward to what is next. We are at peace with where he is and what he is doing and what God has in store for him. We are anxious for his return and looking forward to when we get to see him and hug his neck again, but we are able to move forward with life and have peace with all that comes.

Wisdom is not just something that provides for our ability to conduct tasks. Wisdom provides for our full state. When we find her, we find life and peace.

What do you find with wisdom? Are you satisfied with the ability to conduct things? What if you were to see and accept that when you find wisdom, you find life and peace?

Wisdom Gives

That’s right, wisdom gives. We do not just receive.

“¹⁷I love those who love me,

and those who seek me diligently find me.”

— Proverbs 8:17 (ESV)

Those who love us tend to give of themselves to ensure that we have what we need. We do the same for those we love. Above is wisdom speaking. Notice love is given and received. And, not only that but there is a genuineness to the love and what is given and received.

“¹⁸Riches and honor are with me,

enduring wealth and righteousness.

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,

and my yield than choice silver.

²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness,

in the paths of justice,

²¹granting an inheritance to those who love me,

and filling their treasuries.”

— Proverbs 8:18-21 (ESV)

We have to be careful when we think about the tangibleness of that which is given and received. When you quickly read verse 18 above, we have the idea that our lives will be filled with riches and wealth thanks to wisdom. The reality is that we gain the ability for those things. I know for myself, I seek wisdom and can say that to some degree I have been successful in finding it. But that said, I am not a wealthy man by monetary standards. Oh, I am not poor, but I do not have millions stored up. Even though, I have wealth that cannot be measured by societal standards.

I have been told that others are envious of my desire to learn, and more so my dissatisfaction with my process of learning when they can see that I have and do more learning than they can/are doing themselves. I thank them for their kindness and still internally I am still seeking wisdom every day. Not to get rich monetarily, but get rich in learning of and for the LORD.

You see, when we are seeking wisdom, we are able to find her. Why, because she wants to be found by those who are diligent in their seeking. Look back at verse 17 above and remember that it is wisdom speaking, who loves those who love it. And wisdom gives riches to those who find her.

What are you receiving? Are you seeking riches in the world and not getting? What if you were to shift your seeking to wisdom and when found, realize the riches she gives?

Find Your Delight

“⁴⁷for I find my delight in your commandments,

which I love.

⁴⁸I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,

and I will meditate on your statutes.”

— Psalm 119:47-48 (ESV)

“I find my delight in your commandments,” this is quite the verse and realization. But isn’t it true and with the LORD on a much larger scale.

My wife Lori is a teacher and I am in adult education and what we have found over the years is that people thrive in structure. They are keenly aware of expectations and can focus on producing results when they follow and meet and exceed those expectations. Having rules and guidelines to remove ambiguity and decision making for all of the little things allowing for energy to be expended on achieving results and not on meaningless tasks.

God gives us commandments and rules and expectations on our living life in this world. Some of those are grand, the Ten Commandments and the great commission, and others are less so, caring for the needy. But the one thing we can count on is that these commandments, rules, and expectations are in place for our guidance and direction as we traverse this world we live in as we prepare for our forever home, heaven.

As people in a classroom, we do not look at the structure and think, “wow these are great for me to not have to think about, I can just do”. But in this world, we can and should be looking at the commandments of the LORD as just that, “great for me”. We may not “delight” in the rules and expectations of this world, but we can and should find it in the commandments of the LORD. We should see His promise, His Word, His rules, His precepts, His commandments, and His statues as the structure that keeps us moving through this world as we prepare for our home.

I follow a very strict regimented disciplined daily routine that ensures I complete things on time and I am able to move on to the next with little thought. I am glad to have the commandments of the LORD to drive me forward in the things that matter as I move through this world. I find delight in knowing all my decisions can be made with Him in mind and that when doing so, I am headed in the right direction.

What is your feeling on commandments? Do you see them as restrictive and rigid? What if you saw them more as guidelines to keep you moving and were able to see and find delight in them?

You Will Again Find the LORD

Review my choice of words in the title above. Be aware that it is you that will find the LORD again, and not that He again finds you. If you read my previous study of the word “abandon” you will see that the LORD does not nor will not abandon us. He is there always waiting on us to turn back to Him. And when we do, He is right there ready to pick us up.

“³⁰When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice. ³¹For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.” – Deuteronomy 4:30-31 (ESV)

The LORD will not leave or destroy us even though we turn away from Him. He gave us free will and He knew that we would act and do the way we act and do. He waits patiently for our return to Him. And, when we turn back to Him, He is there with open arms to receive us and love us and comfort us and protect us.

“²⁸And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. ²⁹But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” – Deuteronomy 4:28-29 (ESV)

We will distance ourselves from the LORD and will worship other gods. We will be servants of those gods and will allow them to bring us into despair. And just when things are at their worst. At our tribulation, we will realize the err in our way and we will seek the LORD and we will find Him there waiting for us. We will search for Him with fervor and with conviction.

I again come to the point of who does the searching, we. It is not the LORD searching to find us, as He never abandoned us. It is we who are doing the seeking. It is we who are again turning to the LORD. It is we who are again finding the LORD.

What are you worshiping? Are you hoping for rescue? What if you realize the err in your worship and turn again to seek and find the LORD, knowing that He never did nor never will abandon you?

Negotiate and Stick to It

I have moved to study the word “find” throughout God’s Word. I begin my study in the Book of Numbers with the negotiations of people of Reuben and Gad to stay and not cross over the Jordan River into the promised land. Seems a bit strange to not want to accept that which God had promised, but the reason made sense to the people.

The people of Reuben and Gad are not too different from you and me. They found something that was of benefit to them and that is where they found they wanted to be. When I find something that is of benefit to me, I am inclined to want that as well and am content in that finding. I will enter into negotiations to get/receive that which I found and in those negotiations will give up the prospect of something else to have what I have found. The people of Reuben and Gad did the same with Moses and with the promise of God, they negotiated to stay where they were and not accept the promised land of God.

“²⁰So Moses said to them, ‘If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the Lord for the war, ²¹and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the Lord, until he has driven out his enemies from before him ²²and the land is subdued before the Lord; then after that you shall return and be free of obligation to the Lord and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the Lord.’” “’²⁴Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do what you have promised.’ ²⁵And the people of Gad and the people of Reuben said to Moses, ‘Your servants will do as my lord commands. ²⁶Our little ones, our wives, our livestock, and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead, ²⁷but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before the Lord to battle, as my lord orders.’”– Numbers 32:20-22 & 24-27 (ESV)

In the negotiations, everyone agreed that the people of Reuben and Gad would settle where they were and not in the promised land, in exchange for sending their armed men to fight for, alongside the other tribes in the acquisition of the promised land. Quite the negotiation to say the least. Fight for something that I have no stake in.

“²³But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.” – Numbers 32:23 (ESV)

And there it is, the other side of the negotiations. What happens if you do not uphold your end of the bargain. There are consequences. Where there are consequences to all negotiated terms that are not met, this negotiation is in the site of the LORD and you can bet they will be quite something. Although Moses does not outline what they are, the people had seen the anger of the LORD before, so I am sure that they were well aware of what those consequences were.

“¹At that time Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, ²and said to them, ‘You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. ³You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the Lord your God. ⁴And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan.’” – Joshua 22:1-4 (ESV)

Yep, they upheld their end of the bargain and the negotiated terms were kept by all involved. The promised land was secured and the people of Reuben and Gad settled in the negotiated land.

This is but one example of negotiating and consequences of the negotiation. Here the people of Reuben and Gad avoided the consequences as the LORD and they held up their ends of the negotiation. The same is for you and me. When we negotiate, we are to do so in good faith with full intent on following through with our end of the negotiation. Regardless of who we negotiate with, it is our duty to uphold our end. Remember that the LORD will allow our negotiations. He did so with Moses and here we see with the people of Reuben and Gad. The LORD will always uphold His end, it is up to us to stick to ours.

What do your negotiations look like? Are you making promised that you may or may not intend to keep? What if you were to negotiate in good faith and stick to it as we know the LORD will stick to His?