Sometimes You're It.

 Sometimes You're It..

Sometimes you're it! Sometimes you fall behind. Sometimes you get distracted by your own desires, ideas, emotions, lusts, etc...  Sometimes you get stuck. Stuck in your own ways, a ditch you didn't see; a ditch you thought you could cross safely; something you thought you could control or manipulate. A bad situation, relationship, investment, habit, loss. Life happens, and you get lost.  Fears creep in, and it's more than you can bear or want to.

Luke 15 Imagine the story of the lost sheep.  Left behind from the pack, maybe he fell into a ditch; got caught in a fence or maize; just caught.  Caught by a situation that was more than he could manage. He needed help. He needed finding.  Or imagine the story of the lost coin - falling into a really dark place, a dark situation, a helpless situation.  Imagine being deceived.  Being cornered or manipulated by someone you trusted. Sometimes you can get hurt in a very familiar place where the pain and the hurt causes you to cocoon and morphe into such a delicate position that you need to be sought after to become restored.

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You are not just another number. God knows you by name. Before you were formed in your mother's womb God knew you.  He carved out an entire plan for every moment of your life. Jeremiah 1 Inspite of HIS supremacy, HE'S meticulous about you. HE knows every strand of hair in your head. Luke 12 You are unique.  God doesn't make mistakes. Only humans do that. HE provides for the swallows, and the lillies are adorable. But you exceed them all.  HE is filthy rich and HE wants nothing more than to lavish you with more than gifts.  HE wants to share HIS space, HIS kingdom with you.  It is HIS intention to smother you with inconceivable wealth of life.  The things that you seek, the things that you chase after - HE wants to give them to you and so much more. Matthew 6: 25-34  Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. John 10  You are not forgotten! You are not hopeless! You are priceless! You are always priceless!

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Like the shepherd who intentionally went searching for the one lost sheep and rescued it from it's captivity, so too the Lord Jesus rescues us from our ditches.  Like the woman who lost the one of her ten coins, lit her lamp and searched vehemently until she found it; so too God is careful to shine HIS light into our cocoons.  Being found isn't just a story for the unbeliever, but for the saint as well.  It's the story for the one who is already familiar with Saviour.  The one who has already encountered Jesus, but chose to leave on his own accord like the prodigal son.  He grew up with his father and chose to leave early against the norm and laws of his heritage.  He soon discovered that his choices were wrong, and his father's ways and regulations were right after all.  His father's outlook of the path for his life was right on point. He came to his senses.

Luke 15: 17 - 20

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

My plea to you today is to 'come to your senses'.  Allow God to restore you like the father did his son. Or the woman with her coin. Or the shepherd with his sheep.  The attitude isn't one of condemnation, but restoration.  You may have gone off on your own free will. But remember this, you're human. You cannot ever save yourself, nor block all the traps the devil sets for you.  1 Peter 5 The father was the one who was looking out for his son.  Everyday he was on the lookout for him.  The shepherd chose to leave the other 99 sheep and go after the lost one.  The woman chose to light the lamp and sweep until she found the lost one.  Sometimes you're the lost one.  Sometimes you will get distacted, deceived, lustful, proud, stupid, etc... Sometimes you will lose your way.  It's what we do as humans. Don't be too hard on yourself. 

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God is a restorer. That's why Jesus came from heaven to earth. HE came to reconcile us to the father. Psalm 23 HE is the shepherd.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

God's attitude towards us is always from a place of love.  HE knows we can't save ourselves. Sheep are dumb. Coins are lifeless and young sons are stupid. Stop trying to live in your own strength. You will fall, fail, sink, drown, cocoon. Cry out to God and let HIM rescue you.  When you find youself in a dark place, Don't run from God, run to God! Let go and let God take you into HIS arms. Feel HIS palm enclose around you. Isaiah 41 God made Jesus become human and give up the wealth and royalty of heaven to give us the opportunity to experience and enjoy HIS lifestyle and love. 2 Corinthians 5 Give God a chance to restore you. HE'S so excited to have you back, like the rich father of the prodigal son  who has a feast. Or the woman who calls her neighbors. God throws a party in heaven. The angels rejoice.  

And remember, when you've been restored, extend grace to others.  From time to time others fall behind and or in a ditch. Sometimes, others are the lost coin. Sometimes you're it!

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WORSHIP: 

Why (Live From The Loft) | feat. ELEVATION RHYTHM | Elevation Worship

TESTIMONY:

Don't stay lost. Come to your senses!