Where Am I?
My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. ~ JOB 23:11 (NIV)
My husband and I took some friends who needed an outing for the day to lunch down near the shore. A nice time was had by all, but when my friend’s husband got home, he couldn’t find his cell phone. After looking all around for it, he decided to call his cell number and see if anyone answered. Well, was he surprised when a man (from the restaurant) answered. All my friend could say was, “Where am I?” Needless to say, he was found. This was something that stayed in my mind for a long time and has resurfaced during the Lenten season.
We need to look at ourselves and say, “Where am I with my Lord?” Do we have a loving relationship with Him, a warm smile for others, a giving and forgiving heart, and a reason to be joyful this Easter? If not, then how do we attain this?
One of the sermons I used to give was about a red Christmas gift bag with a big bow. It is God’s gift to us, but we have to open it in order to see it and use it. We can’t just let it sit there to admire; we need to use this greatest gift ever given to mankind, God’s Son, Jesus. We need to open our eyes and study the Word, open our ears and listen to His whispers, and open our mouths to pray. Also, we need to open our hearts to the love and joy that Jesus brings into our lives. Finally, we need to share the power of forgiven sin that Jesus’ death on the cross provides to all who believe and accept this sanctification. Let’s share, too, what Jesus has done and is doing in our lives.
In Matthew 9:2-6, some people brought a paralyzed man on a mat to Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child. Your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does He think He’s God?” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so He asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” As we all know, the man picked up his mat and walked home.
At this special time, let’s ask, “Where am I?” And let’s hope to answer, “Where I want to be!”
Lord Jesus, thank you for your cross and forgiveness of our sins, and the love and joy that comes from you.
SANDRA HAWN-HANES, TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH