At the end of a school year many lost hats, scarves, single gloves, pencil sharpeners, toys, pencils, crayons, library books suddenly show up as students are forced to clean out their desks and lockers one last time. It’s like Christmas. Many repeat these words, “Hey, I didn’t know I had that!”

Paul is reminding Titus, one more time, what we all have, but sometimes forget. We also forget how lost we were and now how “found” we are. “Remind the people!” Paul tells Titus. “Take a firm stand”…”Concentrate on the essentials”. 

THE ESSENTIALS:

“God’s people should be bighearted and courteous. It wasn’t long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back.” Titus 3, Msg

“But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come–an eternity of life! You can count on this.” Titus 3, Msg

This is the GOOD NEWS that is for everyone! We were LOST but now we are FOUND. God’s Word is all about the glory of God, the majesty and power of God, the saving grace and mercy of God who made a way through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, for His created people to love him back, to be restored fully so we can call him Abba, Father. We were lost but now we are found. Sigh, is there anything else better than this? I think not! 

This is our last lesson and most important as leaders…remind everyone that God saves us from being lost to being found and restored forever and ever, Amen.

Dear Heavenly Father, We have read and pondered Your Word in letters from one leader to other leaders and we have learned the importance of the continuing message of lost and found. Thank you for your unending, unconditional love that beckons us back to you. It is so good to be “found”.

Thank you for restoring us to full admission into Your Holy Presence to learn from You, to listen and obey. Continue to be with leaders, those on the front lines of ministry and those who are right behind them taking care of all the behind the scenes work of Your Kingdom. Bless us as we continue to thirst for Your Word and then walk Your Word daily with You. In Jesus Name, Amen