our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Lost but Found
Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. Luke 15:6
When we discovered that my mother-in-law had gone missing while shopping with a relative, my wife and I were frantic. Mom suffered from memory loss and confusion, and there was no telling what she might do. Would she wander the area, or hop onto any bus thinking it would take her home? Worst-case scenarios spun through our minds as we began to search for her, crying out to God, “Please find her.”
Hours later, my mother-in-law was spotted stumbling along a road, miles away. How God blessed us in being able to find her. Several months later, He blessed her: at eighty years of age, my mother-in-law turned to Jesus Christ for salvation.
Lord, You search for us and find us. Thank You for making us Your own.
Jesus, comparing humans to lost sheep, gives us this illustration: “Suppose [a shepherd] has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, . . . he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep” (Luke 15:4–6).
Shepherds counted their sheep to make sure every one was accounted for. In the same way, Jesus, who likens himself to that shepherd, values each of us, young and old. When we’re wandering in life, searching, wondering about our purpose, it’s never too late to turn to Christ. God wants us to experience His love and blessings.
Lord, You search for us and find us. Thank You for making us Your own.
Amazing grace! . . . I once was lost, but now am found. John Newton
失而复得
我失去的羊已经找着了，你们和我一同欢喜吧！-路加福音15章6节
有一天，岳母在与亲戚一起购物时走失了，我和妻子都非常紧张。岳母患有轻微的失智症，很多事都记不清楚，真不知道她会做些什么。她会在附近游荡？会随便搭辆公车，以为这样就可以回家？我们一边到处找她，一边做最坏的打算，并且不断向上帝呼求：“求祢让我们能找到她！”
几小时后，有人发现岳母在数公里外的路边蹒跚而行。我们感谢上帝让我们能顺利找到她。几个月后，上帝更是赐福给岳母，让她在八十高龄的时候，相信耶稣基督得着救恩。
耶稣将人比做迷失的羊，举例说：“你们中间谁有一百只羊失去一只，不把这九十九只撇在旷野，去找那失去的羊，直到找着呢？找着了，……就请朋友邻舍来，对他们说：‘我失去的羊已经找着了，你们和我一同欢喜吧！’”（路加福音15章4-6节）
牧羊人数算他们的羊，以确保没有遗失任何一只。耶稣自比为牧羊人，祂看重我们每一个人，不分老少、一视同仁。若我们正寻寻觅觅，漫无目的，找不到人生的意义，现在就来归向基督吧！上帝要让你我亲身经历祂的爱与祝福！
主啊，谢谢祢将我们寻回，让我们回转归向祢。
奇异恩典！……我曾失丧，今被寻回。–约翰·牛顿