The Parable of the Lost Sheep

“So, he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  

-Luke 15: 3-7 

In the book of Luke, Jesus tells the story of the Lost Sheep. The Pharisees become upset at Jesus because he eats with the tax collectors and the sinners. In those days, the pharisees viewed the tax collectors and sinners as people who are beneath them. However, Jesus did not.  

This passage is important to me because it shows that Jesus desires to know those who are lost. In this passage, Jesus shows the pharisees just how much he cares for the tax collectors and sinners. Why would Jesus do that? Because they were the lost sheep. It was not the ones who are already a part of the fold that Jesus was worried about... it was the ones who were not.  

You may be running from God. You may be running from God because you feel as if you are not good enough because of the sins you have committed. Friend, I am here to tell you that God wants you just the way you are. Just like the parable of the lost sheep, it is worth leaving the ninety-nine just to find you.  

You are worth it to God. You are valuable to God. You have purpose to God. You are loved by God. He proved his love when he died a gruesome death on the cross for you. Your sins are forgiven by God when you repent. Do not let your past define you when God is giving you an invitation to a new life.  

Can I tell you something that is amazing? God rejoices over repentance. Luke 15:7 says, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” God celebrates when you go from being lost to being found. Can you believe that? When someone gives their life to Christ, the same God who created the heavens and earth rejoices at the fact that their lost sheep has finally come home. 

God is inviting you to come home. God is inviting you to set aside your moral failures and give your life to him. When you do, God will begin to transform your life and you will have the opportunity to know Christ on an intimate level. It is so worth it and will be the best decision you will ever make.

If it is your desire to give your life to Christ, you can do that right now. The bible says that anyone who calls upon the name of the lord will be saved. If you confess with your mouth and believe with your heart, you will be saved. It is as simple as saying, “Jesus Save Me.” God is calling you home. Pray this prayer.  

Prayer: Dear God, I know I am a sinner. But I believe you died for me. I believe you rose again. I repent of my sins. God, save me. Use me for your glory. Thank you, Jesus for coming into my life. Thank you, Jesus, for giving me purpose. I love you. In Jesus Name. Amen 

If you prayed this prayer and gave your life to Christ, please reach out to us at info@828project.com so we can assist you in putting you in contact with a local pastor or church.  

How to Have an Intimate Relationship with Christ

Do you ever think about how you wish you could have a closer relationship with Christ? Do you ever think about how you want to have a closer relationship with Christ, but you do not know where to begin? If you answered yes to one of these questions, you are not alone. 

In a world full of technology, money, sports, relationships, and countless other things that many people idolize, it seems as if God sometimes gets put on the back burner. Whether intentional or not, we are all guilty of putting the things of this world before Christ. We are all guilty of idolizing the things of this world. With this fact being true, we are not going to focus on it. 

We are going to focus on how to know Christ on an intimate level. Knowing Christ and having a genuine relationship with him will take hard work. It will take sacrifices but is something that can and must be done. 

In the book of John, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me” (ESV, 2023, John 14:6). Scripture clearly states that Christ is the answer. Knowing that Christ is the answer, how can we make him the number one priority if our life? 

There are a few steps that we must take. First, you must learn to read the Bible every single day without fail. If you are a new believer or do not know where to begin, I encourage you to start by reading the book of John. In doing so, you will learn about the life of Christ. What better way to begin your lifetime of scripture reading than by falling in love with Christ himself?  

After you have read the book of John, listen to the words of the great Billy Graham. In answering the question as to where to begin reading the bible after the book of John, Billy Graham says,

“Next read Acts, for it tells us what His first disciples did in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Then perhaps the letters of John and the letter to the Philippians. Then you may want to read Romans, which sets forth the great doctrines which Paul taught. “

When you begin to read scripture and become a student  of the word of God, you will experience a close fellowship with him life never before. To keep the close fellowship, you must treat the reading of your Bible as the most important part of your day. The things of this word can wait. Reading your Bible cannot. It is key to having an intimate relationship with Christ. 

Another step that you must take to have an intimate relationship with Christ is spending time with him in prayer and devotion. Honestly speaking, I do not pray as often as I should. But I can honestly tell that when I do pray, Christ gives me peace and comfort that is indescribable. When you go to Christ in prayer, you are not alone. Christ is there and he listens. 

 If you are thinking, “I do not know how to pray,” take comfort in knowing that there is not a right or a wrong way to pray. Prayer is your personal communication with God. In prayer, go to Christ and simply communicate with him what is on your heart. Share with Christ the good, the bad, and the ugly. Be honest with him. 

Just like prayer is important to having an intimate relationship with Christ, so is devotion. In my mind, there are a few facets to devotion. The first facet goes with prayer. When you spend time with Christ through prayer, you must listen before you speak. In other words, you must set aside the distractions of this world and immerse yourself in the presence of the Lord God Almighty. Listen to what Christ has to say and then communicate with him.  

The next facet of devotion is the act of being a student of Christ and having the desire to grow as a Christian. I personally enjoy using the YouVersion Bible App on my phone for devotions. There are countless devotions on all kinds of topics and lessons throughout the Bible. If you download the app, there are different plans that you can utilize. If you are struggling with a certain topic, then look up that topic and you will find devotion from qualified individuals. The best part of all, everything is free.  

Another facet of devotion is community. Whether you have been a believer for three days or for eighty years, surrounding yourself around other believers is important. Just like the fact that reading your Bible and spending with Christ through prayer helps you grow, so does community. The fact of the matter is that we need other Christians to hold us accountable, teach us, love us, and pray for us. Immerse yourself into the word of God and do bible studies with other believers. Learn from your fellow believers.

Regardless of what you are struggling with, there is most likely someone else who has dealt with that same struggle or is struggling with it now.  Be real and be honest. Let others give you Godly counsel so that you can grow. And when the time comes, you can give Godly counsel to someone else. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (ESV, 2023, Galatians 6:2). Regardless of what trials and tribulations you face, you are not alone. Not only will Christ be there, but so will your Christian community. Let them be a part of your walk with Christ.  

When you can truly learn to know Christ at an intimate level, you will understand that nothing on this earth compares. Spend every day for the rest of your life finding joy and pleasure from Christ.

John Piper says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”

The things of this world will one day come to an end, but the joys and pleasure from Christ will not. Become satisfied in Christ above all else. You can enjoy things on this earth but ensure that your greatest joy comes from Christ.  

 Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to know you. Lord, I pray for those who want to know you, but do not know where to begin. Help us to learn to spend time with you every single day. Lord, I pray that every single person learns to find their joy from you. Help us to grow closer to you every day for the rest of our lives. Thank you. Amen 

A Firm Foundation

Do you ever catch yourself thinking about what lies ahead and not what is right in front of you? Are you someone who dreams big and desperately wants your dreams to come true right now? If you answered yes to either question, thank you for your honesty. 

Speaking from personal experience, I am someone who dreams big. I am someone who is generally a very passionate person. There is nothing wrong with having big dreams or extreme passion. That is normal. But sometimes we tend to focus so much on our dreams that we do not take the time to enjoy the season we are currently in. You ever been there? I certainly have.  

Whatever dream you may have, you must put in the hard work. You must display great passion and determination to be successful regardless of what obstacles are in your path. Any succesful person would tell you that they did not just wake up one day successful without putting in the hard work.  

Do you ever view your relationship with Christ like that? Do you ever look at other people and say, ‘Man, I wish I could have a strong relationship with Christ like they do’? Do you ever feel guilty because your relationship with Christ is not where it needs to be? I know I do. 

Friend, you can have a strong and intimate relationship with Christ. You can have a personal and genuine relationship with Christ. Just like that dream you work so hard for, you must put in the work with Christ. I’m not saying you must do all these good works and give a certain amount of money to a homeless person to know Christ. 

What I am saying is that you must make it a priority to spend time with Christ in devotion, reading your bible, prayer, worship, and fellowship. The deeper you dive into the word of God, the closer you will grow to Christ. Every single day, spend time with God. Every day, put in the hard work. Put in the grind because this is the most important thing you could ever do. 

When you can make it a priority to spend time with Christ daily and become a student of the word and surround yourself with other believers, Christ will begin to build your foundation. You begin to grow. You begin to know God in a way that you did not know was possible.  

 Just like the obstacles that occur when you are working hard to make your dreams come true, obstacles will come and try to disrupt your relationship with Christ. The enemy will desperately try to pull you away from Christ. Friend, stand strong and immerse yourself in the mighty love of Jesus. Know that the difficulties you experience will not overcome you. They will not defeat you. In fact, they will make you stronger.  

Scripture says, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (ESV, 2023, 1 Peter 5:10). 

What an incredible promise this is! The same God that created the earth, that sent his son to die on the cross for our sins, will make us strong. He will be your foundation. Because when you are in Christ, you will not be defeated. The battle has already been won. When you are in Christ, the things of this world cannot destroy you. Take comfort in that.  

I just wanted to finish with one of my all-time favorite quotes. Even when you do not understand what God is doing, trust him. Understand that he is in control. Let God mold you into the person he is calling you to be. He is at work even when you do not see it. Let him be your firm foundation...  

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” 
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity 

Finding Peace through Sanctification in Christ

In a world full of sin and heartbreak, the gospel of Jesus Christ gives every human being the opportunity to be new and transformed into the individual that God is creating them to be. Author and theologian, John MacArthur defined sanctification as “the progressive disconnects in the life of a believer from sin” (MacArthur 2020).

Sanctification is a major turning point in the spiritual life of a believer. Sanctification gives the believer peace and joy that the things of this world cannot. British philosopher H.H. Price said,“A spiritual person has a certain serenity and inward peace which others cannot help envying and even admiring” (Price 2013). The truth is that sanctification gives an individual happiness that is often indescribable. How does sanctification give an individual happiness? It is quite simple. Christ is the giver of peace. Marvin Vincent describes it as

“Christ is thus not merely our peacemaker, but our very peace itself” (Vincent 1924).

The closer an individual grows to Christ, the more peace an individual will experience. That does not mean that trials and tribulations will not occur. Challenging times in life are inescapable. The fact is that no human being can ever go through life without experiencing pain and loss. However, an individual can learn to experience joy in their suffering. Sanctification helps in that process because it sends the believers' eyes and hearts towards Christ and not the things of this world. Man can spend their entire life seeking joy and happiness from the things of this world and die in a state of regret. However, as soon an individual gives their life to Christ and begins and they experience sanctification, their life begins the transformation process that will give the fulfillment that this world cannot give. Sanctification is part of the foundation to a life that is rooted in Christ. 

Great is Thy Faithfulness

When reading the bible, the book of Lamentations is probably not a book that you have a genuine desire to read. In fact, you might be tempted to skip over it all together and read about the remarkable life of Jesus or the incredible transformation story of Saul turning to Paul and becoming one of the most influential men of all time. As great and life changing as those stories are, there are many truths in the book of Lamentations that must be shared. 

The book of Lamentations was written by an anonymous author and was made up of five poems that served as a memorial of the Israelites after the fall of Jerusalem. Just like the poems in Lamentations, there are several poems in the book of Psalms that are also considered lament poems. Lament poems can be described as a passionate declaration of pain and sorrow. The book of Lamentations was written as a way in which individuals could voice their pain, anger, sorrow, or any other emotion. Friend, I want you to know that it is okay for you display a passionate declaration of pain and sorrow to God when you are going through a challenging time. In fact, God welcomes it. How do I know that? Because the human pain and sorrow addressed in the lament poems became part of God’s inerrant word to reach people like you and me.

Regardless of what emotions you are experiencing, God welcomes you just the way you are. What really changed my life was understanding that it is okay to have questions towards God. It is okay to be upset with God. But regardless of how you feel, take it to God. Spend time in prayer and devotion and experience a love and comfort you have never experienced before.  It is in times like this that you will experience growth in your faith like never before. Communication with God is key to spiritual growth. 

In Lamentations, the author says, “my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so, I say, “My endurance has perished; so, has my hope from the Lord” (ESV, 2023, Lamentations 3:17-18).

The author argues that they have no peace, they are not happy, and they no longer have hope in the lord. What amazes me is that there is an astonishing transformation just four verses later.

The author says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (ESV, 2023, Lamentations 3:22-23). 

What changed? How can the author go from being without peace, unhappy, and no hope in the lord to singing “Great is thy faithfulness?” It is quite simple, but so life changing. It is the unchanging and unbreakable love of God. The truth is that God’s love is so powerful and so superior to any type of love on this earth that it will change your life. God’s love for humanity is evident every day. Friend, when you feel like your unloved and without peace, run to God. Experiences his love and mercy. You will not regret it. You will be changed. It is that powerful.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me love when we show you anger. Thank you for showing forgiveness when we show you how undeserving we are of you.  Lord, amid the trials and tribulations of life, give us the strength to sing “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” God help us to turn to you in times of need. Help us to understand it is okay to have questions. Thank you, Jesus. Amen. 

How Desperately I Need Christ

As I get older and grow closer to Christ; I realize how desperately I need Christ. Amid the business of life, I understand that my need for Christ comes before my need for food, clothing, finances, or anything else. Over the past seven months or so, I have seen a real change in my life. I went from being an individual who loved the lord but was still spiritually immature to an individual who has truly fallen in love with Christ and being a student of the Word of God. The highlight of my day is my daily quiet time with Christ whether it is spent in devotion, prayer, worship, or listening to sermons as I drive. I simply cannot get enough. I did not get to this point because I prayed the right prayer, or I was faithful through the good times. I got to this point because I, after all these years as a being Christian, came to the realization that I need Christ more than the air my lungs need to breathe. After going through a very difficult season of pain and loss, I experienced love and comfort in a way that is indescribable. God met me in the valley and gave me the strength and determination to keep going.  Isiah 43 says “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (ESV, 2023, Philippians 43:1-2). Friend, I want you to know that this scripture is true. Just like Christ helped me through my season of difficulties, he will help you through yours. When you feel like you cannot go any farther, cling to Christ and his goodness and mercy. Understand how desperately you need Christ today, tomorrow, and every day for the rest of your life. When you fully understand and give all your pain and heartbreak to Christ, it will change your life. It changed mine.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, you are a gracious and loving God. You are perfect and I thank you for your mercy. I desperately need you, Lord. You give me love and peace when the world gives me pain and heartbreak. Give me the strength to go through the business of life and help me honor you in everything I do and say. Amen.