From the Edges – Thoughts on Being Lost –

From the Edges – Morning Devotional 2-28-24

Pastor Calvin Cook

LENT – Day 13 – Thoughts on Being Lost –

Scripture focus – 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ESV

The first Florida trip that Gail and I took as a married couple was an interesting journey to say the least. Of course, it was at least 25 years ago. We didn’t have all the modern directional GPS, tracking and cell phone directional assistance. At that point we were still using maps. I confess that I also am a prideful man and observe the number #1 rule of the man’s travel code which is never stop and ask for directions. On one instance, which Gail has never allowed me to forget and often brings it up, we were headed in the wrong direction. What seemed like 1000 miles to Gail was probably only 50 that we were headed in the wrong direction. I was sure I was right, and Gail was sure I was wrong. Of course, this coming from the one who only drove 1 mile of the 2000-mile trip, just saying in my defense. Regardless we were headed in the wrong direction not necessarily lost we still knew all the time we were in Florida we just didn’t exactly know where, but knew we were headed in the wrong direction.

Thinking on these things as we approach a second week this week on being lost. Deuteronomy 8 and many other places in scripture speaks to the people who chose the wrong direction and were lost. Admittedly they were lost a long time, but regardless they were lost. They followed their own whims, desires, directions without trusting or listening to the directions of the one who had their best interests at heart.

Being lost is difficult. Asking yourself the question why am I lost? Is the most difficult question to ask. We don’t want to admit that maybe we made a mistake, chose the wrong way, did the wrong thing. We continue to wonder around trying to find the direction we desperately need without realizing that there right before us all the time is the patient love of God waiting for us to admit we have failed on our own, trusted in other gods, followed other ways, and stand in the need of forgiveness and being willing to experience redemption so we are no longer lost.

We need to hear some of the words we hear from “being lost” stories of scripture and life. Words like “God will make a way when there seems to be no way”. “I (God) am making all things new” “Come to me when the burdens are heavy, and I will give you rest” “The Lord is fulfilling his promises and is patient toward you.”

The most important thought today is when you have made mistakes, followed the wrong way, even turned away – Jesus said and still says “Follow me”! An invitation to follow the one who is never lost. I don’t know about you but that is the one I want to follow, the one who knows the way.