“And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?” – 1 Samuel 9:20 (KJV).
It is ironical that while Saul was out seeking for his father’s lost asses, Israel was out seeking for Saul. In his search for his father’s lost asses, he came in contact with destiny. God is in the mission of saving the lost. “For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:10 (KJV). His mission on earth is a mission of restoration of lost relationship, lost wealth, lost health, lost blessings, lost glory and lost lives. To buttress this point, Jesus gave three parables of lost sheep, lost piece of silver and lost son (Luke 15:4-32). All these accounts highlight the message of restoration. Again, when Jesus fed the five thousand men, besides women and children, he instructed the disciples to gather the fragments that remained that nothing be lost (John 6:5-13). The disciples gathered twelve baskets of the fragments. All these point to the fact that Jesus is interested in our gain not in our loss. He came to add values to our lives and not to take values.
God promised to restore the years that the cankerworm and caterpillars and other devourers have devoured. Examples abound in the scriptures of God’s work of restoration. It is the devil, as a thief that has come to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus came that we might have life in abundance.
The Amalekites invaded the city of Ziklag, taking the women captive, their sons and daughters were equally taken captive. David and the people that went to battle with him wept bitterly until they had no more power to weep. David was greatly distressed for the people spoke of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved for their sons and daughters, but David encouraged himself in the Lord.
David enquired to know the mind of God, then God answered him, pursue: for thou shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all. Here the conclusion. “And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives”. 1 Samuel 30:18 (KJV). You too will recover all that the enemy has stolen from you.
Prayer: Lord, help me to recover all the devil and his agents have stolen from me in Jesus name.
Rev. Vincent Diolu