Kathi Pelton
Twelve years ago I lost a necklace that had been given to me while my husband and I were the directors of a house of prayer in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. We had been praying daily for Israel and the Jewish people. A dear friend felt to send me the necklace that had upon it a menorah, the Star of David and the Christian symbol of a fish which is a Greek symbol that translates into, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior”.
I was very sad when I lost it. I looked everywhere, and asked God for its return but never located it. In the years since then, our family moved back to the United States, and we have lived in five different homes and two different states. This week as I put away the boxes that held our Christmas decorations, something dropped on the ground in front of me. I looked down and saw the part of the necklace that has the menorah, Star of David and the fish (not the chain, only the charm). I was shocked. We have celebrated Christmas twelve times since it was lost (and it wasn’t lost at Christmas time), we’ve bought new containers for all of our Christmas decorations over the years and emptied the boxes a dozen times, and never seen the necklace; but nevertheless, there it was!
As I picked it up the Holy Spirit spoke to me,
“This is a sign for many that things lost will suddenly and miraculously be found. Not only objects but lives that have been lost will be found.”
These words reminded me of the story in Luke 15 about the lost sheep and lost coin,
““Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
““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 15:4-10
These two stories come right before the story of the prodigal son. God cares deeply about lost things and lost loved ones. He heard my prayer twelve years ago to recover my necklace, and though it appeared that it was forever lost…suddenly it was found among the decorations that we put up to celebrate the birth of our Messiah. This necklace that symbolically announces “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior” to the Jews was found within these items that celebrate our Savior’s birth.
As we’ve been meditating on Zechariah 3, where Joshua the high priest is “plucked like a brand from the fire”, we encounter a beautiful picture of Lord taking back what was stolen from him (this one who was lost). It was a sovereign and miraculous act that caused Joshua’s life to be restored and recovered.
When Mary said to the angel of the Lord, “Be it unto me according to your word,” that one act of yielding became the doorway of the entrance of our Savior. As we continue to yield our lives and say to the Lord, “Be it unto me according to yourword” then we too become a doorway for others to see the Messiah. Our lives become the manger in which He lays His head. We become like the star that led wise men to come to him and like the angels that announced the Savior’s birth to the shepherds. Our lives announce the Good News that says to all who are lost,
…“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
This Good News continues,
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”” Luke 2:12
I believe that my lost necklace being found is a sign for us all. It is a sign that the lost will be found. I also believe that the symbols on this necklace are symbolic of the salvation of Jews; light is coming to reveal that their Messiah has come and He is “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”
Today as we yield our lives to the will and word of the Lord we pray for the lost. We come into agreement with the intercession of Jesus our Savior for both wise men and shepherd to have eyes to see and ears to hear that their Savior has invited them to “come”. We will see lost things recovered suddenly.
(Day 26: The Yielding)
Oceans in the Desert 
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