CLEOEJACKSONIII.COM
  • My Home Page
  • My Life and Ministry
  • My Ongoing Thoughts
  • My Favorite Bible Verses
  • My Favorite Stories
  • My Favorite Jokes
  • My Favorite Quotations
  • My Favorite Web Links
  • My Contact Info
"Helping Others Communicate"

THE NOTEBOOK

6/9/2015

 
Tyler Campbell is an exceptional young man who pastors the First Baptist Church of Perry, Florida.  It was my privilege to speak for him this past Sunday morning while I was on vacation down in the Sunshine State. 

Because I was planning to speak, I had taken my Sermon Planning Notebook with me, along with my individual sermon notes for the message I was to share.   Unfortunately, when I returned home, I could not find my notebook. 

Now, for the average person, that may not seem like much of an issue.  But for me, as a Pastor who speaks multiple times per week throughout the year, it was disastrous.  My planning calendar for the entire year, my forms (Yes, Pastors utilize checklists in preparing for worship and preaching!), and lots of thoughts and notes sketched out for messages yet to be preached are all contained in that one three ring binder.

Needless to say, when I realized I could not find my notebook, I panicked.  Few things could be as disastrous for me as the loss of that single book.  I went thought my luggage.  I searched and researched my vehicle.  I even got on the phone and called the hotel where we stayed in Florida – but all to no avail!

When I had at last given up all hope, my precious wife came up the steps from my study with the notebook in hand.  It had been there in plain sight all along.  Somehow, I had just repeatedly overlooked it in my futile search.

All I can say is that the severity of my distress was suddenly replaced by the ecstasy of my delight. I was elated.  That which was so valuable to me, and which had been lost to me, had now been found and restored to me by someone dear to me!

I was reminded of the fifteenth chapter of the New Testament Gospel of Luke, in which Jesus tells three different parables, or stories, about the rejoicing that accompanies the recovery of lost things.  The first two (in verses 3-10) have to do with a lost sheep and a lost coin:

The Parable of the  Lost Sheep

3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4“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? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7I 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.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coinsa and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”


These two parables set up one of the most famous ones Jesus ever told:  that of the Prodigal (or Lost) Son (in v,v. 11ff.):

11Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.


My joy at the recovery of a lost notebook likely cannot compare to that of the woman finding her lost coin or the shepherd his lost sheep, and certainly not to that of a lost child who is found and welcomed home by a once broken-hearted father!

And all of these things only illustrate the joy that our Heavenly Father has when one of us, as His lost children, returns to Him!  And how is that possible?  By the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus Christ, Who, like the determined woman and the unwavering shepherd, refuses to rest until He has brought home all those who are precious to God!  As Jesus himself said (in Luke 19:10):  10“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 

For my part, I share the testimony of the great hymn writer of old, John Newton, who said: 

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see
.


And that, my friends, is reason to rejoice!

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:  http://biblehub.com/niv/luke/15.htm
and
http://biblehub.com/niv/luke/19.htm.


HYMN LYRICS SOURCE:  http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Amazing_Grace/.

Comments are closed.

    Cleo E. Jackson, III

    Occasionally I will add
    a few thoughts to my blog. If you find them inspirational, I will be
    honored.

    Archives

    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All