Caught in a Net

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

I hear so many people talk about trying to strike a balance in their lives with so many commitments and obligations. Some obligations are self-chosen while others are shoved upon us but either way, they require our attention. My Bible study offered a different perspective this morning that is worthy of mentioning. Angela Thomas-Pharr, author of Stronger, compared the hectic life of a person to the life of Jesus who was constantly pulled in a million different directions. Her view pointed out that striking a balance can imitate a healthy goal but in reality, it is the exact opposite of what Christ did. ‘The ministry of Jesus was full of overwhelming crowds, inconsistent disciples, judgmental, ever-present Pharisees, loneliness and temptation…[but] Jesus lived with a consistent calm and wisdom. His soul was filled with grace and peace, and His daily activities were guided by an unwavering mission,’ p. 106. Our verse above stamped its message on the life of Christ…to seek and save the lost.

We are to be imitators of Christ and guide our daily activities by the prodding of the Holy Spirit. We are going to respond to the loudest noises when really our response should always be grounded in the quiet still voice of Jesus. He is our balance and every effort in which we try will fall short if our mission isn’t the same…to seek those hurting or lost people and share the message of love and grace. I love the image Angela painted of a tightrope walker. ‘When I look at the life of Christ, I realize that I am not called to spend my life as a tightrope walker, tediously trying to keep all things in balance, searching for structure and control. By His goodness, I have been caught in a net called grace…show me a woman who is in over her head, yet responding to life with grace and peace, and I’ll show you a woman who has chosen to live like Christ.’ P 107.

Caught in a net called grace…it means that we have already fallen…it means we are safe and secure… it means that we are being held as we tackle our overwhelming circumstances. As we check off our boxes today accomplishing the crowded obligations may we all take a moment to remember the mission for which we too have been called…to seek and to offer the saving grace of Jesus.