A Lost Camera Lesson

During a recent trip to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World a camera was lost.  Not only was it lost – it was lost at night shortly before closing.  We prayed, “Lord, help us find the camera.”  With thousands of people in the park, where would a person begin to look?  The best choice was to check where we had been towards the end of the evening.  We retraced our steps, looked around the grounds, asked at the last ride we attended and checked at lost and found.  Nothing was found and our expectations were very low.  However, we were told to call Disney’s Lost and Found the next day with a description of what the camera looked like and approximately where we thought we may have lost it.  This was done, but still nothing.  “Well, that is lost” we said, “And it will probably never be found or was taken by someone else.  This may be an experience that can teach us a life lesson.”  The following day we decided to call lost and found one final time.  A smile appeared on our faces because the camera had been turned in.  It was available for us to retrieve it or they would ship it to us.  We rejoiced and voiced a “thank you” prayer to God.

We didn’t give up searching for that which was lost.  It had some value, but even more valuable was the picture content holding visual memories for years to come.  This reminds me of a parable that Jesus told his hearers about the lost sheep.  He said, “Suppose one of you 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 joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ (Luke 15:4-6).  Jesus compared this search by God to the salvation that is needed by each individual who turns to Him.  He continues by saying, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7).  In all of this we can conclude that God feels that each person is valuable in God’s sight and has great worth.  When that individual who is lost is finally found, there is much rejoicing.

Love - An Action Word

Most people think of February in terms of Valentine's Day.  In your mind you may have thoughts of hearts, arrows, chocolates, or feelings of warmth and happiness.  However, one concept that stands head and shoulders above all others when it comes to February is love.  I’m not talking about those “fuzzy” feelings that we receive when we think of a family member or a friend.  I’m talking about love which is exhibited in action.  What is easier for you to do – to say to someone, “I love you” or, to take out the garbage?  Of course, it is easier to verbalize love.  We like to hear someone tell us that they love us because that makes us feel good.  But far more gratifying to us is to see someone show us love by going out of their way to do something for us.  That is because love is an action word.

Remember that often quoted Bible verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  How did God love us?  By telling us He loves us?  No.  By showing us that He loves us.  Notice the action word “gave” that is underlined in the verse above.  God loved us so much that He expressed His love through concrete action.  This thought is simply expressed in this verse: “This is love: not that we loved god, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (I John 4:10).  But that's not all there is.  The writer goes one step further to explain to us that we should use the example that God gave as a pattern for how we deal with others.  He says, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (I John 4:11).  Let’s make the entire month of February a month to show love to others – through our actions.  Here are two things you can do.  (1)    First, thank God for the love gift that He gave you in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Pray to God with a thankful heart for that wonderful love gift.  As you pray, mention at least six blessings you enjoy because of God’s love gift to you – forgiveness of sins, a wonderful thoughtful family, health, friends, or something else.  (2)    Second, utilize that pattern of love as an action word with one family member and one friend.  What can you do for them this month?  Give them a bouquet of flowers as an expression of thanks, or something else.  May God bless you as you make love an action – not just a feeling.