Greetings Leaders and welcome to today's edition of...
Learn and Grow with Jesus EVERYDAY
Today's Topic is: Finding and Recovering Your Lost Treasures Part I
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2021
Bible Reading: Luke 15:8-10 NIV
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10 NIV
Discussion Question: How do I find my lost treasures?
Did you know that with the exception of the human spirit or soul, there is nothing under the sun that can truly be lost? Everything on earth goes through some cycle, recycle or regeneration, and may change from one form or state to another, but nothing ever leaves the earth. Eveything God created from the beginning have undergone significant transformation or metamorphosis but they are all still here with us.
We feel a sense of loss when something material, tangible or valuable to us leave our sight, possession, influence or control. When we can no longer find or locate something, we say we've lost it. However, the truth is that nothing is ever lost, but rather, things relocate or move from one person or place to another. If I lose a wad of money by the roadside, anyone who finds it will pick it up and it will become their money. To me, that money is lost, and I will be very grieved, but factually, it really wasn't lost but rather, it left my sight, my possession and my control, and moved to someone else.
Nothing you've ever lost has left the earth and therefore can be found and recovered. Jesus gave us three principles of finding and recovering our lost treasures.
Light a lamp
Sweep the house
Search carefully until found.
Let's take the principles one after another.
Light a Lamp.
The most basic purpose of lighting a lamp is to give light and remove darkness so we can see. The light of the lamp empowers our vision, enhancing our ability to see and gives us Illumination.
Imagine you are blindfolded and taken into a very dark room with no light at all. upon removing the blindfold and opening your eyes, you notice that you are engulfed in thick darkness. You become very apprehensive, agitated, anxious and very uncomfortable because you have no idea where you are or the danger lurking in the dark. Imagine being in that dark room and hearing eerie sounds around you. You might even start screaming and crying out for help. In your desperation to get out of the room, you reach with your hands to feel your way out and somehow, you touch a light switch and flip it on, and the whole room is lit. You look around and there's no danger at all. Nothing to worry about. And all of a sudden, with the knowledge and understanding of your environment, all fear, anxiety and agitation fly out the window. Such is the power of light. It not only removes darkness, it also dispels fear, agitation, anxiety, discomfort and all those ugly feelings that came as a result of ignorance.
The lighting of a lamp gives knowledge and understanding. It illuminates your mind removing fear, doubt and unhappiness. Darkness is the most effective weapon of the devil, and that is why the bible says "that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; Ephesians 4:17-18 NKJV The only antidote to this strategy of the devil to darken our minds and our understanding is to light a lamp of knowledge. The bible says that "The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:4-5 NLT.
You simply cannot survive the assault of the enemy without the Word of God. Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." Psalms 119:105 NKJV. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV. If we reject knowledge, God will also reject us. God's instructions are ckear....My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Hosea 4:5 ESV.
The same principle applies in our professional life and careers. The wisest man that ever lived said, "Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to words of knowledge."
Proverbs 23:12 NKJV And again, "Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding". Proverbs 23:23 NKJV Become a shining star in the field of your endeavor. Apply yourself to knowledge. Train, research, study and become a subject matter expert. Distinguish yourself from the crowd and expand your capacity, and the crowd will pay you a very high premium for the value you carry. It will surprise how money will relocate from the crowd to your bank account.
Watch out for Part II tomorrow.
Stay uplifted in Christ always and live Cheerfully everyday.
Leader Chinedu Nicholas Obodo for EXOLOM Fellowship, Maryland, USA. Find us at Exolom.com