“For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.”
(Ezekiel 34:11, ESV)
(Ezekiel 34:11, ESV)
When the scripture above was written, the people of Jerusalem, Judah, and Israel were scattered to the winds. Very few were left in Judah and Jerusalem. War had destroyed the Temple. The city walls of Jerusalem were told down to ruin. Those who did not die in battle were taken into captivity or had fled the holy city. Much of the land was laid waste. The fields no longer held crops. Instead, there were destroyed dwellings and weeds scattered throughout the fertile valleys. Most of the promised land was now an empty, desecrated series of ruins and motley fields.
Looking upon these fields of ruin, Ezekiel was told by the God of Israel that there was hope. God would “search for His sheep and seek them out” (Ezekiel 34:11). God would gather them up from the four winds. God would bring the captives back home. Israel would be resettled. The walls of the city would be rebuilt. The Temple would once again hold worship… soon.
Ezekiel saw hope in God. Ezekiel was told that God would do what it took to get the holy people back. Despite their sin, God wanted them back in the holy land, back to worship, again in relationship.
I find it very interesting that this verse of the Bible does not talk about Israel searching for and seeking out God. Instead, God is searching for and seeking out Israel! Should you sin or fall away or lapse in your spiritual journey, God will seek you out as well. God would move heaven and earth to bring you back into the fold. God loves you deeply and wants to remain in relationship with you.
A young father grew up in a Christian home. He had very loving parents. He was married with one son. He was a wonderful young man. He loved his family. He cherished his son. But for some reason I never understood, the young man didn’t have time for God. He called himself a Christian, attended worship a few times a year, but he didn’t connect with God.
Then, when the young father was thirty, his son was diagnosed with cancer. The young father did everything in his power to save his son’s life. He helped the boy get into the best hospital. He sought out the most gifted of all doctors. They told the father in no uncertain terms that the boy would not live long. I and the congregation prayed many hours for that boy. I also asked that God reveal himself to the family, that they may worship him passionately.
A month later, I was contacted by the father. He was crying on the phone. I feared the worst. The father spoke to me between sobs and gasps that his son’s cancer had disappeared. The doctors couldn’t figure it out. The cancer was on the scans. It was on the biopsy. It couldn’t have just disappeared. The chemo hadn’t even begun yet. I met with the family. I prayed with the father. I told them that God wanted a place in their lives and had blessed them with a miracle.
To this day, the boy has had no recurrence of cancer. The doctors never could figure out why. I know it was a miracle given by God. However, something else has happened over the years. The father has again stopped worshipping. He attends worship sporadically. Though God wanted a relationship with him, the young father had no time for God. Even a miracle did not spur the young family to give God their love and honor.
That won’t stop God from seeking them out again. God continues to reach out to those who don’t have time for worship and commitment and faith. For some, God’s love sticks. For others, they don’t care about God’s reaching out or ignore the signs of God’s presence. God keeps trying, seeking, searching.
Do you remember a time when you felt God seeking you out? Do you keep alive the memory of a holy moment when God’s Spirit touched your heart? Do you cherish the God who sought your soul? Do you not realize your worth to God?
I was standing at the back of a sanctuary at a distant church. I was invited to visit by the pastor. Only a few knew that I was an ordained pastor. One of the ushers knew it. He had a kind smile and made sure I was comfortable in the last pew.
As the service ended, everyone was leaving when the usher came up to me and said, “Pastor, there is a young woman tearing up at the end of the pew over there. Could you speak to her?” He was shocked when I turned to him and said, “Friend, have you spoken to her?” He answered, “I wouldn’t know what to say!” I touched his shoulder and said, “I feel God calling you to go over there first. I’ll be here if you need me. Go see what she needs.”
The usher walked over and started a conversation with the young woman. They talked, then talked some more. The sanctuary was almost empty, and they were still talking when he waved me over. I came right over, and the usher whispered, “Pastor Dave, could you pray with Rachel and me. She wants to accept Jesus as her Lord and I want to rejoice with her when she does!” We prayed together. The moment was beautiful.
That usher had no idea that God was reaching out for that woman. I knew it. I felt the usher needed to witness that moment when God reaches out through him and someone says, “Yes, Lord!”. It was that usher’s moment to see how God could reach out to another using a humble servant.
How many times has God worked through you to reach or save or help another? You do know God searches and seeks and saves others through you, right? It’s HIS way. He loves us THAT MUCH!
“He’s waiting for you. God is standing on the porch of heaven, expectantly hoping, searching the horizon for a glimpse of his child. You’re the one God is seeking.
God is the waiting Father, the caring Shepherd in search of his lamb. His legs are scratched, his feet are sore, and his eyes are burning. He scales the cliffs and traverses the fields. He explores the caves. He cups his hands to his mouth and calls into the canyon.
And the name he calls is yours.…
The message is simple: God gave up his Son in order to rescue all his sons and daughters. To bring his children home. He’s listening for your answer.” (Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment, p. 194)
Looking upon these fields of ruin, Ezekiel was told by the God of Israel that there was hope. God would “search for His sheep and seek them out” (Ezekiel 34:11). God would gather them up from the four winds. God would bring the captives back home. Israel would be resettled. The walls of the city would be rebuilt. The Temple would once again hold worship… soon.
Ezekiel saw hope in God. Ezekiel was told that God would do what it took to get the holy people back. Despite their sin, God wanted them back in the holy land, back to worship, again in relationship.
I find it very interesting that this verse of the Bible does not talk about Israel searching for and seeking out God. Instead, God is searching for and seeking out Israel! Should you sin or fall away or lapse in your spiritual journey, God will seek you out as well. God would move heaven and earth to bring you back into the fold. God loves you deeply and wants to remain in relationship with you.
A young father grew up in a Christian home. He had very loving parents. He was married with one son. He was a wonderful young man. He loved his family. He cherished his son. But for some reason I never understood, the young man didn’t have time for God. He called himself a Christian, attended worship a few times a year, but he didn’t connect with God.
Then, when the young father was thirty, his son was diagnosed with cancer. The young father did everything in his power to save his son’s life. He helped the boy get into the best hospital. He sought out the most gifted of all doctors. They told the father in no uncertain terms that the boy would not live long. I and the congregation prayed many hours for that boy. I also asked that God reveal himself to the family, that they may worship him passionately.
A month later, I was contacted by the father. He was crying on the phone. I feared the worst. The father spoke to me between sobs and gasps that his son’s cancer had disappeared. The doctors couldn’t figure it out. The cancer was on the scans. It was on the biopsy. It couldn’t have just disappeared. The chemo hadn’t even begun yet. I met with the family. I prayed with the father. I told them that God wanted a place in their lives and had blessed them with a miracle.
To this day, the boy has had no recurrence of cancer. The doctors never could figure out why. I know it was a miracle given by God. However, something else has happened over the years. The father has again stopped worshipping. He attends worship sporadically. Though God wanted a relationship with him, the young father had no time for God. Even a miracle did not spur the young family to give God their love and honor.
That won’t stop God from seeking them out again. God continues to reach out to those who don’t have time for worship and commitment and faith. For some, God’s love sticks. For others, they don’t care about God’s reaching out or ignore the signs of God’s presence. God keeps trying, seeking, searching.
Do you remember a time when you felt God seeking you out? Do you keep alive the memory of a holy moment when God’s Spirit touched your heart? Do you cherish the God who sought your soul? Do you not realize your worth to God?
I was standing at the back of a sanctuary at a distant church. I was invited to visit by the pastor. Only a few knew that I was an ordained pastor. One of the ushers knew it. He had a kind smile and made sure I was comfortable in the last pew.
As the service ended, everyone was leaving when the usher came up to me and said, “Pastor, there is a young woman tearing up at the end of the pew over there. Could you speak to her?” He was shocked when I turned to him and said, “Friend, have you spoken to her?” He answered, “I wouldn’t know what to say!” I touched his shoulder and said, “I feel God calling you to go over there first. I’ll be here if you need me. Go see what she needs.”
The usher walked over and started a conversation with the young woman. They talked, then talked some more. The sanctuary was almost empty, and they were still talking when he waved me over. I came right over, and the usher whispered, “Pastor Dave, could you pray with Rachel and me. She wants to accept Jesus as her Lord and I want to rejoice with her when she does!” We prayed together. The moment was beautiful.
That usher had no idea that God was reaching out for that woman. I knew it. I felt the usher needed to witness that moment when God reaches out through him and someone says, “Yes, Lord!”. It was that usher’s moment to see how God could reach out to another using a humble servant.
How many times has God worked through you to reach or save or help another? You do know God searches and seeks and saves others through you, right? It’s HIS way. He loves us THAT MUCH!
“He’s waiting for you. God is standing on the porch of heaven, expectantly hoping, searching the horizon for a glimpse of his child. You’re the one God is seeking.
God is the waiting Father, the caring Shepherd in search of his lamb. His legs are scratched, his feet are sore, and his eyes are burning. He scales the cliffs and traverses the fields. He explores the caves. He cups his hands to his mouth and calls into the canyon.
And the name he calls is yours.…
The message is simple: God gave up his Son in order to rescue all his sons and daughters. To bring his children home. He’s listening for your answer.” (Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment, p. 194)