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Jesus - Your Freedom and Forgiver

"Mom...Dad... Where Are You?"

Do you remember ever getting lost as a kid? Getting distracted for just a second, then looking up to get a visual on Mom, only… you don’t see her ANYWHERE! Maybe as a parent, you’ve experienced the same kind of thing. It is an awful, stomach-dropping feeling. One minute your little one is right next to you, and the next minute, they’re gone.  When you actually think your kid might be lost, and you know they don’t have the capacity or the maturity to navigate that situation on their own, what’s the reaction? It’s not passive. It’s not lazy. It’s not low-priority. It is the only thing we can think about. Every bit of our brain power, emotional energy, adrenaline and physical reactions are laser-focused on one thing: find my baby!

God has this kind of laser focus for each of us. If we take God at His word, then His word is, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:18). The Apostle John says that becoming a child of God is actually a right for anyone who believes in Jesus. (John 1:12) The right. Not just the option. Or a bonus. You say "yes" to a relationship with Jesus, and that gives you the right to be a child of God. 

Somehow we forget that God is our Heavenly Father and feels for us as His very own children. There is nothing He would not do for our safety, protection, growth, health and security. But there’s a very popular lie that goes around whispering to all of us… “You couldn’t possibly be worth God’s time and attention.” Have you ever heard something that sounds like that? Feels like that? “You’re just one little human, and there are so many others. God has bigger things to deal with. Besides, you’ve done things God could never forgive you for.” If you have those thoughts (and we all have those thoughts) they’re lies, and they don’t come from God. Here’s how Jesus talked about God’s feelings for you:

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?  And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.  In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. (Matthew 18:12-14) 

How often do we take our place as “little ones” in the kingdom of God? God, as your Good Father, is quite in love with you and in an all-out search for you. He’s not the one hiding. In fact, He says, “Seek Me. Look for Me. You’ll find Me.” (Jeremiah 29:13) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) That’s a promise. “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” (Psalm 86:5) That's another promise. 

Jesus offers forgiveness, goodness and an abundance of love to anyone who calls out to Him, even the most lost and the most distracted. He leaves the 99 for one. That may not seem like a big deal, until you happen to be the one. 

Reflection: Do you feel lost or distracted? Call out to your Heavenly Father with confidence that He will find you. Return to Him and receive forgiveness. Live free, with full rights as a child of the Most High God.