Christ Came to Seek the Lost

The lost coin represents those who are lost in trespasses and sins, but who have no sense of their condition. They are estranged from God, but they know it not. Their souls are in peril, but they are unconscious and unconcerned. In this parable Christ teaches that even those who are indifferent to the claims of God are the objects of His pitying love. They are to be sought for, that they may be brought back to God…. The coin, though lying among dust and rubbish, is a piece of silver still. Its owner seeks it because it is of value. So every soul, however degraded by sin, is in God’s sight accounted precious. As the coin bears the image and superscription of the reigning power, so man at his creation bore the image and superscription of God; and though now marred and dim through the influence of sin, the traces of this inscription remain upon every soul. God desires to recover that soul, and to retrace upon it His own image in righteousness and holiness. The woman in the parable searches diligently for her lost coin…. So in the family, if one member is lost to God, every means should be used for his recovery. On the part of all the others, let there be diligent, careful self-examination. Let the life-practise be investigated. See if there is not some mistake, some error in management, by which that soul is confirmed in impenitence.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 193, 194.

Notwithstanding the defects of the people of God, Christ does not turn away from the objects of His care…. God will do justice for His own elect.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 169.
With God at Dawn p. 73
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for Annie who had an additional back surgery because of a leak in her spinal column. Rose
—-I am asking special pray for my brother Steve, he is on his way up to _____ for emergency surgery on his hip area, internal bleeding, possible infection in his bones, aortic aneurysm, and more! They are trying to get a team of vascular drs to do his surg. Patti
—-Please pray for Deandra that God will keep her safe,and that she give her life to God. Rosemary
—-please pray for my Partner’s safety. He’s traveling from _____. His name is Steve pray that he’s safe and protected from all danger and covid virus. Samantha
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Dear Friends,

Mrs. Russell took the train home from visiting a friend. When the train stopped at a station along the way, a beautiful young lady with a baby boarded the train. She looked around at all the passengers and decided to sit beside Mrs. Russell. As the train pulled out of the station, the two women began to talk. Mrs. Russell was admiring the baby and before long the young lady asked her if she would please hold him while she went to the restroom. The train stopped at a station and more passengers got on. Some got off. Mrs. Russell talked to the baby and waited for his mother to come back. A half an hour passed. No mother. Forty-five minutes went by. She did not return. Finally Mrs. Russell stopped the conductor as he was walking by. She explained that the baby’s mother had not returned from the restroom and she was worried. The conductor checked. The restroom was empty. Then he remembered that the young lady had left the train at the last stop.

The conductor and the woman took the beautiful blanket off the little baby boy. Pinned to his garment was a note. It said, “Please care for my dear baby. When he is 21, he is to go to this bank in Chicago. At that time he will be told who he is and given enough money to go through the university.” When the train arrived in Battle Creek, Mrs. Russell took the baby to the authorities. She got permission (which was much easier in those far-off days) to keep the baby and raise him.

When James Russell was 21, Mrs. Russell told him this story. He was shocked and horrified. He was repulsed by the whole situation. After thinking about it, he decided that he did not want to know who he was. He did not want his real mother’s money. Mrs. Russell had loved him. She had raised him. She was his mother: not the one who gave him birth.

When my mother was a little girl, she lived next door to him. He was a bent-over old man who walked on crutches because he had arthritis so badly. He had lived his life as a common laborer in a small house, when he could have had a good education and great riches.

When I was a little girl, I used to look at his picture. He and his wife were standing on the steps of their very small wooden house. I would think of the mansion he could have had. It was within his reach. All he had to do was ask for it. But he would not.

God has provided everlasting life for us. All that can be done for mankind’s salvation has been done. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 It is probably the most familiar verse, but so full of meaning. Jesus is the “way, the truth, and the life.” He says, “No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” John 14:6

How our Dear Saviour longs for us to accept His great provision. How He desires us to put our hand in His and allow Him to give us His great gifts of love. He says, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” Isa 49:15,16 “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa 45:22 “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer 31:3

May we accept God’s Great Gift of adoption into His Royal Family and love and serve Him with all our heart is my prayer.

Rose