NOVEMBER 21, Luke 19:10

“HAVE YOU SEEN THIS CHILD?” The large print caught Caroline’s eye as she poured cereal into her bowl. On the box, there was a picture of a cute little girl, along with information about who she was and where she was last seen. “Wouldn’t you love to find one of these missing kids, Ben?” Carolyn asked her brother. “It must be awful to be lost. And their parents must be so worried!”'

“They definitely are,” agreed Mom. “Remember when you went home with Lay Hoon after school one day and didn’t call Mom?” asked Ben. “Mom called everyone we know, trying to find you.”

“I was very worried,” said Mom, “and very relieved when I finally found out where you were.”

“I know, so relieved that you grounded me,” said Carolyn, laughing. “But that taught me to check with you whenever I wanted to do something before coming home.” She looked at the picture again. “Anyway, I’d like to find a real missing kid and keep other parents from worrying.” Carolyn pictured herself patrolling the park, watching for little kids who looked like they might have been lost. “I’d need a cell phone to call their parents,” she said, “and I’d bring books for the kids to look at until their parents come.” She frowned. “Or should I deliver the kids to their homes?”

Ben laughed. “You’d have to actually find a missing kid first,” he said, “and there’s not much chance of that ever happening!” Carolyn sighed. “Probably not,” she agreed. “Well,” said Mom, “I was just thinking that we probably know some missing kids already.”

“What?” Carolyn’s spoon clanged into her bowl. “We know some?” She looked at the girl’s picture on the milk carton. “You haven’t seen this girl, have you, Mom?” Mom shook her head. “Actually, I’m thinking of kids who are ‘missing’ from God’s family,” she explained. “We know lots of kids, but I wonder how many of them trust Jesus. We need to tell them about Him and let them know that He wants them to ‘come home’ to Him, to become a part of God’s family.”

Thought: Do you know if your friends have accepted Jesus? If they have not, they are ‘lost’. Would you want to show them the way to Jesus?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending the Lord Jesus Christ to this world to save lost sinners. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.