The Upper Room 26th January 2024 Devotional Message
The Upper Room 26th January 2024 Devotional, Friday Message by Valerie Clark (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
TOPIC: Lost and Found
TODAY’S READING
Luke 15:11-32
This thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. – Luke 15:32 (KJV)
As I grow older, I am more inclined to forget where I’ve put things. So I have developed the habit of asking God to help me find what I’ve lost, and God graciously responds.
In our scripture from Luke 15, we read of a lost coin, a lost sheep, and a lost son. Each was precious to the one who had suffered the loss, and great was the rejoicing when the lost was found.
Many people have lost something that they think they will never find: a reputation, innocence, faith, hope, joy, enthusiasm, vision, purpose. Many have lost their first love for God. But when Jesus told these stories, he was offering hope for restoration.
Yes, God is kind and helps us with everyday situations — like lost household items. But God is greatly concerned about people who are lost — those who have drifted away or who have never been close to begin with. God longs to bring all of us home and restore us. When we have lost our way in the struggles of life, we can come to God and pour our heart out to our loving Father. God will always welcome us, embrace us, love us, and restore us.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, may the love you show us through others lead us back to you. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
When I feel lost, I can turn to God, who will always welcome me home.
PRAYER FOCUS
Those who feel far from God
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More From Valerie Clark
The Upper Room 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. The meditations are stories of real people working to live faithfully with the Bible as their touchstone. Every day, readers of The Upper Room around the world read the same story in many different languages and pray the same prayer together.