Joy for the One Found

This morning I am going to take the other side of a belief that I have. You see, I am concerned with this idea that the small percentage of a group should be of more concern than the larger percentage of the same group. The fringe groups of society are pushing to be recognized at the expense of the mainstream of society. This morning I am going to speak on behalf of a small percentage of a group, the followers of Christ.

“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 15:7 (ESV)

Jesus shows us here that the one lost who is found and repents creates more joy than ninety-nine others who have already repented. The one percent is recognized more so than the ninety-nine percent. I have to see that the one is certainly greater than the ninety-nine in this instance.

How did we get to this realization, well Jesus tells us the parable of the lost sheep. When a shepherd loses just one sheep, he will leave the flock to find the one. Where as to some the one seems of little value, to the shepherd, that one sheep is part of the family, not to mention of monetary value to the shepherd as well. There is great rejoicing when the sheep is found and returned to the flock.

“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.’” – Luke 15:4-6 (ESV)

Just as the sheep are of value to the shepherd, I am of value to the LORD. I am part of the family and when I am lost, He will drop everything to find me and bring me home. When I am found, there will be great rejoicing in the flock that I have been returned.

In this situation, the one is fully recognized, not at the expense of the greater group, but as a member of the group in need of rescue.

What is your approach to the one lost? Are you looking to them as though they are of little value alone? What if you were to take the approach of Jesus and the shepherd and drop everything to help the one be found and bring great joy to the flock?

Lost with Faith

It is one thing to be lost. Having a sense that all is gone and that you have been left out on your own to figure things out with little prospect of being “rescued”. I am sure that at some point all of us have felt that way and face it, panicked a little. I know that I have on a number of occasions. And then there is the times when you are lost, yet have faith and know that you are simply just turned around or that “rescue” is just around the corner.

My study this morning is about these very cases as I read in Matthew 15. Jesus is making His way along the road and a woman comes to Him seeking His help with her daughter. She was at a loss of what to do and how to proceed and was vigilant in her actions that Jesus could indeed help. The disciples, who were with Jesus were acting to protect Him and asked Jesus to send the woman away.

“²⁴He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” – Matthew 15:24 (ESV)

This woman then came to Jesus, and pleaded with Him for help. And Jesus began a dialogue with the woman.

“²⁵But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ ²⁶And he answered, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’ ²⁷She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’” – Matthew 15:25-27 (ESV)

This woman knew that she was not worthy of being in the presence of the LORD asking for His help. Yet, as with the woman who touched the robe of Jesus, she knew that He could help and this was her chance.

“²⁸Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.” – Matthew 15:28 (ESV)

And just with the woman who touched His robe, Jesus recognized her faith and took action based on that faith.

Jesus will find us when we have faith that He will. He is always looking for me as one of His flock. I may get lost from time to time, yet, that is likely of my own doing. I have to remain in the LORD and have the faith that I will be “rescued”.

You will notice that I have put quotations around the word rescue throughout. I am simply indicating that the need and act of being helped is not always as grave as we would make it out to be. My being lost is not always going to be to the detriment of my ability to move forward. Sometimes I am just seeing myself as lost when in reality I am right where the LORD would have me be in that moment. I have to remember that when following God, the plan He has for me may not be the plan that I have or can sense in the moment. I have to continue with the faith that I will come out the other side just where He would have me. And that is the idea of being lost with faith. I will be lost on my own, yet with the LORD and faith in Him, I will always be found.

When you are lost, what is your reaction? Are you thinking “woe is me”? What if you were to lean on your faith in the LORD and know that you will found, and that where you are may be right where you are supposed to be?

Lost Saltiness

Losing some things are natural and not much if anything can be done about it. Athleticism for instance, we all get older and our bodies are not as performative as they once were. But there are things that are lost because we have allowed them to be lost and the loss is grave. Knowledge seeking is one. When we lose our thirst for knowledge, we will seemingly go backward as opposed to advancing.

“¹³You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” – Matthew 5:13 (ESV)

Jesus warns us against losing our saltiness, lest we are now useless in the world for what we were created. I have to remember that I was created to bring the gospel to the world and serve the LORD. In order for me to be successful in those, I have to remember to stay vigilant in my work and learning. I have to continue doing the work and learning more about the work. As soon as I stop, I am no longer doing that which I was created. I am no longer adding value and have been reduced to being under the foot of the world as opposed to bringing flavor to it.

You see, saltiness is the flavor that we bring in the name of Christ. In our food, salt gives flavor to the bland and brings life to it for enjoyment. But salt that does nothing for the food is only good to be tossed out on the steps to be used to walk on. Now, yes, there is value to being able to walk on the icy step thanks to the salt, but that is not what it was meant for. Once on the ground, there is little thought as to it even being there. Yet in my food, salt is very evident in what it brings to the enhancement of my meal.

I have to remember to remain salty and bring life to those around me. I have to keep working and learning the Word of God to ensure that when the opportunities are presented I am ready to provide to those in need. The LORD has tasked me with work and it is my duty to remain capable of the work by staying on top of my learning. I have to remain salty to ensure that I am bringing the flavor to the world on behalf of the LORD.

What is your approach to saltiness? Have you lost your saltiness and are just fit for lining the walk? What if you remained in the Word of God to keep learning and doing the work of the LORD to bring flavor on His behalf?

Lost Even When in the Right Place

Reading God’s Word is so revealing. I am in Isaiah this morning as I begin a study on the word “lost”.

“⁵And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” – Isaiah 6:5 (ESV)

Here, Isaiah is describing his vision of the Lord. He is in the temple looking up at the Lord on the throne. And yet, his words indicate that he is lost.

I know that I have felt similar in certain situations. I knew exactly where I was, yet was not confident in whether or not I was or belonged there in the first place. It was not until I reached out to confess my confusion and lack of confidence that I was assured to be. Isaiah asked. Okay, it was more of a statement aloud. He made it known that he was not sure that he was supposed to be there or even belonged.

“⁶Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷And he touched my mouth and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’” – Isaiah 6:6-7 (ESV)

Isaiah spoke out to confess. This confession was was heard and action was taken to let him know that he did indeed belong.

As noted, I have experienced this sense of being lost myself and it was not until I confessed was it confirmed that I was. I am positive that it happens on the regular in our houses of worship. There are those who come to visit, looking for something and end up leaving without confirmation that they have found it. Either it comes from us as the congregation not embracing those who are visiting or from the pulpit with the seemingly vilification of us all as sinners. More can and should be done to help others as they are likely feeling lost.

It is not a good feeling to be lost, especially when I am in the right place. I may not know exactly why I am there, but there is a reason and frankly I am looking for it. I may not have the confidence to confess, and therefor it is up to someone to draw me in with an assuring word or action, just as the seraphim from the vision of Isaiah taking action to acknowledge and assure him of his rightful place there.

What are your feelings when you are out in the world? Are lost where you are or know of those who might be? What if you called out in confession of your being lost or were the one to take action of assurance to those who might be?

Confidence to Enter Holy of Holies

In the Old Testament the tabernacle was a sacred place where one would come to confess their sins on the Day of Atonement. It was separated into three “chambers”. There was the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. I, being of the general population could enter the Outer Court. The Priests would enter the Holy Place, and only the high priest of the time would enter the Holy of Holies. So you can see that it was a sacred place with minimal access. Then Jesus died and the curtain was torn.

“⁵⁰And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. ⁵¹And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” – Matthew 27:50-51 (ESV)

With this tearing of the curtain, all now have access to the LORD without intermediary of the high priest of the time. As we find in Hebrews, Jesus is Better and is the Highest Priest. Access to Him means that there is no longer a “need” for other high priests. Thanks to the tearing of curtain at the death of Jesus for my sin, I now have direct access to him.

“¹⁹Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” – Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV)

Here is the thing. Now that I have access, I have to have confidence in that access. I have to come to Him always. I have to enter His presence. I can enter the Holy of Holies and I should.

No longer am I held out of the presence of the LORD due to procedure. No longer am I separated from God by two curtains and rooms. No longer do I have to go through someone else to reach the Father. No longer do I have to wait for the one day to seek forgiveness. The LORD is available to me always, whenever I need Him. The LORD is ready to listen. I only need to come to Him with the confidence that is given me through his spilled blood for my sake.

What reason are you giving to not come to Christ? Are you waiting for the opportunity on that one day? What if you had confidence supplied by Jesus’ death on the cross for you and came to Him right now?

Confidence To Come Near to God

This morning I was drawn to think of my boys. They, as younger and to some degree even now, found it difficult to come to me when there was/is something they need to discuss. There is somehow a fear that I would not understand or not be supportive of them. I can understand to some degree as I am the patriarch of the family and as such am here to drive things, not take direction.

In the last few verses of chapter four, the writer of Hebrews identifies Jesus as the “Great High Priest”. As He is such, I can certainly see and feel the apprehension of coming to Him with my needs and wants, much like my boys.

“¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV)

But even so, Jesus knows all that I struggle with and opens His arms to me. I have to remember that He has nothing but the best intentions and desires for me with Him. He will guide and direct me to greatness. He comforts me in time of need. He educates me in those things that are of consequence. I have to come to Him with confidence knowing all of this. He is my father and I should look to Him as the one to give me all.

This time in the mornings is my time to come to Him. I devote my time to His Word and to learning and applying to my life. I then take time here to write my thoughts on my learning to share so that others might have the chance to learn and apply themselves. I know that these are not my words, but the words of the LORD through me. I come to the LORD with confidence that He will share with me that which I am to learn and share with others.

Remember, I am not a scholar of the LORD’s Word. I am only His child, seeking His face and wisdom to get along in this world. I come to Him knowing that whatever I ask will be provided when it comes from my heart and is for His glory. I am confident in my relationship with Him and know that He will always guide and comfort me with His love.

What is your approach to coming to the LORD? Are you apprehensive at what He might think or provide? What if you were to come to Him with the confidence of knowing He is on your side and will guide and comfort you always?

Keep the Confidence

Keeping the Confidence. So easily said. The practice of it is much more challenging.

I again come to the analogy of athletics. Athletes are generally very successful when their confidence is high. When they are knowing that they can and will do something that has a positive impact. And even when they find themselves in a moment of failure, they understand that it is only a moment and that they will find the way back from that failure.

Our life with Christ is rooted in confidence. Not so much in our ability or our talent, but in the hope that regardless of where we might be the LORD is there with us. I have to know that I am going to prevail in all thanks to the LORD and His will and His watching over me.

“⁵Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, ⁶but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” – Hebrews 3:5-6 (ESV)

The writer of Hebrews in this passage is specifically identifying Jesus to be greater than Moses. Yet I am looking to verse six this morning. I am to have confidence in Christ as He is faithful over God’s house, the church to which I am. It is not me that I have confidence in, it is in Christ. He will always win out.

Here is where things get a little complicated for us has humans, we have to overcome failure and know that Christ does win. Our confidence is in Christ, not ourselves. I am a sinner and filled with failure. It is Christ who lifts me up and not myself. I will have moments of failure to which I must move on knowing that my confidence is in the LORD who does not fail. My failure is just a momentary setback that was likely of design to redirect or keep me from some calamity. Like the athlete who is confident they will overcome, I must as well. But, different from the athlete who is confident in their ability to overcome, my confidence is in Christ who will lead me through that which is challenging my view of success.

Failure is going to come, it is for sure. The way through the failure is to have confidence that we will overcome. Our confidence to do so should be in the LORD as He will not fail. I must keep the confidence in Him, knowing that He will lead me through whatever is upon me that may not feel like success.

Where are you putting your confidence? Are you looking to yourself to get you through the challenges and failures? What if you were to keep your confidence in the LORD knowing that He will not fail?

Confidence for You

I have mentioned that my family competes/competed in sports and with that came a lot of different coaches and we were able to witness a lot of different coaches as well. One thing that is evident in the successful coaches is the confidence they have and communicate to their players. The coaches are able to seemingly get more out of the players when they are confident in their ability to do the work. But, it is not really getting more out of them, they are giving them the courage and permission to to do the work they are capable.

“⁴And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. ⁵May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:4-5 (ESV)

Paul, speaking for Timothy and Silvanus, is pointing out to the church that they have the skills to continue doing the work for Christ. And he lets them know that he, Timothy, and Silvanus are confident that they will do just that. Coaching at its best here. The coach, Paul, letting his team, the church, know that he knows they can do it.

Paul does not get this confidence from just anywhere, it comes from the LORD. Paul is abiding in the LORD and conveying His will to the people. Paul knows that the LORD will be with the church and he reminds them that they should abide in Christ and they will find the path and work they are to take.

Paul is the example for me. In the training profession I teach and coach others to do the work they are assigned. It is up to me to ensure that they know I have confidence for them in their work. Likewise, or really before my worldly work, I am tasked with having confidence for those around me in the work of the LORD. I am to witness to them and give them the Word of God to use as their guide and provide for them the words of confidence for their spreading of the gospel to the world around them.

What is your approach to getting others to do the work? Are you telling them to in hopes they will find it within themselves? What if you showed confidence for them that comes from your abiding in the LORD that encourages them to do the work they are capable?

No Confidence in the Flesh

I cannot rely on myself and my lineage and my own actions as they will ultimately always fail me. Yes, I know that in the short run, there may be some benefit to me taking control or my ancestry from the ruling class (not really from royalty) or my great visible actions. I may see some “comfort” from it all, in fact Paul experienced all of it in his life.

“⁴though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.” – Philippians 3:4-6 (ESV)

Paul was a great man in the world prior to his becoming great for Christ. He seemingly had it all, and yet when the LORD appeared to him, he saw that it all was just of the flesh and that there was so much more in the LORD and for following Him.

“²¹Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²²When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” – Matthew 19:21-22 (ESV)

The world is an enticing place and can lead to dependency and will ultimately lead to our undoing. I have to remember this in my life. The world is tempting, and seemingly even more so today. There is social media that is so easy to manipulate and everyone has things so great. The sense that “you too can have it all” is the sentiment as displayed. It is all about the comfort and the carefree approach. I hear and see of people having $100K monthly expenditures and I find myself wondering how I too can have it all and how good it would be. This is the fleeting life and so temporary. At any time the comfort could be gone and then, without the “needed” resources, I would find myself right back to the same place as before.

“²Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—“ — Philippians 3:2-3 (ESV)

I have to put my confidence in the LORD and not in the world. Paul found that out and warns us to be aware of the evil in the world. The world only thinks of itself and its own survival and will toss us away once it has chewed us up. With Christ, we are not chewed up, we are lifted up and given the prospects of such a glorious future. The now may not be comfortable in the sense of the world standards, but our long term outlook is so great. Confidence in the flesh or the world will only lead to disappointment in the long term.

Where are you putting your confidence? Are you looking to the world and all of the “riches” it gives to get you through the long term? What if you realize that the now is just that and your confidence should be in the LORD who gives you future glory?

Confidence From Fear of the LORD

This morning I begin a study of the word “confidence”. I start with a passage in Job and see that I am to have confidence from the LORD and the fear of Him.

“⁵But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;

it touches you, and you are dismayed.”

— Job 4:5 (ESV)

Look at the words of Eliphaz the Temanite above to Job. It is natural for us to feel subjected to many a difficult time and circumstance. And this can lead to doubt and fear. We are going to feel all that is bad and ugly as though it is directed at us. Society and the world does not understand and that lack of understanding creates fear in their own life and they want for all to feel the same way.

“⁶Is not your fear of God your confidence,

and the integrity of your ways your hope?”

— Job 4:6 (ESV)

Now we have fear as well, yet that fear is in the LORD and instead of allowing it and the world of society to create doubt and fear in us, it should create confidence beyond understanding. With the fear of the LORD and the confidence that comes, we are to be strong like a lion and get out into the world.

“¹⁰The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,

the teeth of the young lions are broken.

¹¹The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,

and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.”

— Job 4:10-11 (ESV)

The lion is not deterred by the world. They will continue until there is no more way to continue. Notice that they will “perish for lack of prey”. That is not that we are to seek others as prey, but more that we are to continue with the confidence of the lion in that there is nothing that can be overcome.

The lion continues providing and protecting and caring for their world and we should be doing the same. We cannot let the world defeat us. We have to go through the world with the confidence that we will overcome. That confidence comes from our fear of the LORD. When we tap into that confidence we will not be defeated.

What does your confidence look like? Are you confident in only a few things? What if you were like the lion and had confidence in all things and drew on the confidence that you get from your fear of the LORD?