THE UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL 3RD JANUARY 2026, SATURDAY MESSAGE
Never Lost to God
Arlene Timber-Henry (St. Maarten)
Today’s Reading
Matthew 7:7-8
The Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. – Luke 19:10 (NRSVUE)
The money I had put aside for my church offering had somehow disappeared. It wasn’t a huge sum, but I searched carefully everywhere inside the house and even looked outside, thinking it might have blown away through the open front door. Eventually I gave up and forgot all about it for several months.
On New Year’s Day, I was cleaning the house and decided to rotate the seat cushions on the sofa. As I removed the last one, I found my missing money, still folded, resting against the inside of the sofa arm. It must have fallen out of my pocket and worked its way down into the folds of the couch as we sat on it day after day.
As I replayed in my mind what had happened, it occurred to me that I would have found the money sooner had I not stopped looking. I believe that is the kind of persistence we are called to in today’s quoted scripture verse. I can also see how this idea extends to our relationship with God or, rather, God’s relationship with each of us.
Although our sinful actions separate us from God and we at times turn our backs on God, we are never lost to God. Like a gentle shepherd, God persists in seeking us until we are found.
Thought for the Day
I am valuable to God.
Prayer Focus
Someone who has lost something valuable
Today’s Prayer
Thank you, God, that we are never out of your sight and always on your mind. Help us to remain in your presence in humble obedience to your will. Amen.
The Upper Room Devotional 3rd January 2026 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More