Lenten Reader | Day 23

March 15th, 2021

Rejoice

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

- Luke 15:8-10

As I look back on my life since accepting Christ, I am amazed at all the things he has led me to and brought me through.

I was 14 years old when Christ found me as I was seeking direction in my life. As the son of a foundry worker, I wouldn’t have expected to experience all that I have since that day. I have traveled to foreign countries where God showed me his love for the world. In those travels I met my wife, Becky. We have shared good times and bad times. In the bad times we lean on God for our needs – spiritual, physical and emotional. We raised our son, who has grown, married and now we have 3 wonderful grandchildren.

As we approach Easter, I am grateful for all these experiences and the things Christ has allowed me to see and do. I am thankful for his leading since that prayer of acceptance, and I am happy that he has always been faithful even when I have not.

But what causes me to rejoice is the fact that Christ made the sacrifice so that those who believe and call on his name will celebrate on the day that he comes back to claim the Church for his own.

“What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,…
What a day, glorious day, that will be.”

-Jerry Guthrie