“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. -Luke 15:4-5
I can actually identify with the verses above as they play out so descriptively true within my life. Jesus came looking for me-a major event that I never actually expected to happen.
I didn’t think he cared whether or not I had distanced myself from him.
Anger, and the misconceptions I developed about Jesus/God through out the ups and downs of my life had kept me from wanting to be bothered anymore. There are certain things I hadn’t learned or understood up until now. Jesus approached me in such a very strong way. At first, his entrance seemed harsh, considering the situation that was at hand. My attention was fully grasped and focused strictly back upon him.
Jesus arrived to me with an extreme seriousness, one I initially took as a retribution for having turned away from him with animosity.
Then, I soon realized off and on during the process that Jesus was just being a stern, but solicitous parent/father. Although I was hurt by the circumstance in which arose he wasn’t at all trying to hurt me. In fact, he’s been nothing but a tremendous help, comfort, protector, and loving guide through out it all.
Jesus wasn’t messing around this time. He’s got me in an intimate one on one relationship with him. One that is stronger and more intense than ever before and it is continuing to grow beautifully. I’ve also noticed that our relationship is guarded. Jesus is attentive and I am eager and hungry for all of his love, grace, knowledge and instruction. You have to ardently love someone to come at them that hard and keep them under a tight grip. I am utterly shocked. I really shouldn’t be after all Jesus/God has done for me in the past, however, that is what built up the faith that I had to instantly trust in him.
I feel genuine love in my heart for Jesus and I enjoy spending quality time talking to him in my prayers and reading the scriptures along with my devotionals day to day.
Sometimes we go by what we feel or see in the natural sense and when it comes to God we shouldn’t do that. We are to walk by faith and not by sight because even though we don’t see the lord we know that he is everywhere. And just because we may not feel he cares we know he does from the extraordinary acts that he does in our lives no matter how big or small and he does them with a consistency.
Like I said before, I didn’t think it fazed Jesus that I departed communication with him for several years when all along he was there and working it out for my own good and as a part of his plan.
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.-Proverbs 16: 9
