Now that the weather is nice, this is where we study on Thursday afternoons with the students in the shade of a small tree sitting on the lawn next to our teaching building. The student study began the semester with a group of three senior boys and Sherry and Amanda. One by one the boys have become too busy completing senior research papers and finding jobs. We knew it would happen this way, but we still felt discouraged that the group got smaller and smaller. In addition, we have been feeling empty by Sherry and Amanda’s seemingly lack of progress. Amanda’s mother is Buddhist, so she does not want to disrespect her mother. Sherry used to always say she believed, but lately she seems to be questioning and going backwards.
But this Thursday afternoon Sherry and Amanda shared some encouraging stories. Amanda had read a book about a Chinese man who left his job and traveled to Southeast Asia looking for a spiritual life. The man kept meeting Christians, and in his search for a spiritual life found Jesus. Sherry shared about her high school classmate who had become a Christian. Her classmate talked about the importance of spending lots of time with other Christians. He said he will only marry another Christian when that time comes. Sherry said that he had changed so much.
Matthew 18:12-14 What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
We have studied this verse in the student study several times to say that God is searching for them. But when I feel discouraged and empty and lack trust my Father will come and find me. He is not willing that I would be lost.
But this Thursday afternoon Sherry and Amanda shared some encouraging stories. Amanda had read a book about a Chinese man who left his job and traveled to Southeast Asia looking for a spiritual life. The man kept meeting Christians, and in his search for a spiritual life found Jesus. Sherry shared about her high school classmate who had become a Christian. Her classmate talked about the importance of spending lots of time with other Christians. He said he will only marry another Christian when that time comes. Sherry said that he had changed so much.
Matthew 18:12-14 What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
We have studied this verse in the student study several times to say that God is searching for them. But when I feel discouraged and empty and lack trust my Father will come and find me. He is not willing that I would be lost.
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This is really neat, and encouraging. Keep up the perseverance in the Good Work, and we are sure by faith that He will continue to come along side you.
ReplyDelete-from Cecely