Tag: seek the lost

10.z. “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not!”

Micah 4:6   In that day, declares the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalms 38:17    For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.

Isaiah 35:3-6    Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;  then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

Ezekiel 34:16     I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD.  I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

Zephaniah 3:19    Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.

Hebrews 12:12-13    Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,  and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

What an encouraging Word today.  In all of the fear and worry being proclaimed by social and mainstream media, some founded and some of it not.  At the end of the day, worry and fear are natural emotions that come upon us when we are taken back from our normality.  It is not bad that we have these emotions but to dwell on them and cling to them, and to believe them to be all that is ahead of us is bad, very bad.  We deny God His Glory.  Our faith and trust and reliance give glory to God.  I am sure there is more glory given to God when faith, trust, and reliance have allowed us to surrender fear and worry.  When fear and worry come upon you don’t let it own you and your thoughts.  Turn your thoughts to the promises and protection of Jesus Christ.  He knows the hairs on our head, the cattle on a thousand hills, and no sparrow drops to the ground but that He knows.  He not only is able to give us reprieve from our fear and worry but He is also able to replace it with joy, peace, comfort, courage, strength, and rest.  That old hymn comes to mind; “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full into His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”

I will bring back the strayed

Psalms 119:176  I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

Isaiah 53:6     All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Ezekiel 34:16    I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

Matthew 18:12-13    What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?  And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

Luke 15:4-7     “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

John 10:16     And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

1 Peter 2:25     For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jeremiah 31:18    I have heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the LORD my God.

Galatians 4:9     But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Hosea 4:6     My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge

Do you find yourself lost and life’s trials weighing you down? The Psalmist came to the understanding that apart from God we wander and get lost in life.  Oh, we try to make sense of it but in the end we are just chasing one thing after another to fill the void of being apart from God.  Always seeking but never finding that which fulfills our soul.

 You will find the more time you spend in God’s word there is a continually new and ever increasing understanding need for God and your dependence upon Him.  Love for and dedication to the word of God does not make us more spiritually independent, but more spiritually dependent upon God.  The word of God leads us to salvation, repentance. understanding, deliverance, ability to worship God rightly,  power to live an upright life, and strength to persevere.

His word is a light onto our soul and a guide to our feet.  Through His word your are shown love, peace, joy, hope, faith, strength, and understanding.  Humbly serve Him today and you will find Him more than sufficient.

Proclaim good news

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Psalms 72:1   Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!   May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!   Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!  May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!   May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!   May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!   In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!   May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!  May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!

Luke 4:18   “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

Isaiah 41:17   When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Ezekiel 34:16    I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

Job 5:15  But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.  So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.