Furious Chapter 2 Devotional

Lost and Loving It

When my third child, London, was a toddler, our family took a trip to Disney World—the iconic “Happiest Place on Earth.” As the sun dipped below the horizon, the magic of the evening parade began. Main Street transformed, its sidewalks brimming with tens of thousands of eager faces lining up for the show. Amid the dazzling lights and cheerful music, I did what any parent would: I glanced around to check on my little family, a habit ingrained in me. But this time, something was wrong. My quick count came up short. London was missing.

I turned to my family, but no one had seen him. My heart began pounding. We immediately split up, each of us combing through the crowd in a frantic search. The minutes stretched into what felt like hours as panic took hold. I called out his name over and over, my voice rising above the noise of the crowd. “London! London!” Each unanswered cry fueled the growing dread.

Then, through the mass of feet and legs moving along the street, I spotted him—a small, diaper-clad figure strolling away, utterly unconcerned. Relief and urgency surged within me as I pushed my way through the crowd, grabbed the little boy by his arm, and turned him around. It was London.

I scooped him up, clutching him tightly, my heart pounding. I covered him in kisses, overwhelmed by relief. But he just looked at me, puzzled, and asked, “What’s wrong, Dad?”

“You were lost!” I blurted, still catching my breath.

His response caught me off guard. With a playful smile and complete innocence, he said, “No, I wasn’t, Dad.”

That’s when it hit me. He had been lost—completely unaware of the danger, blissfully enjoying his adventure. But as his father, I was the one devastated, my heart breaking with fear and grief. I had been searching desperately, calling out for him with every ounce of love in me.

It reminded me of God’s own search for humanity. In the Garden of Eden, after Adam sinned, God broke His Sabbath rest to call out, “Adam, where are you?” Adam was the first lost soul, and from that moment, God has been seeking and saving the lost.

I thought about this truth again one day in downtown Nashville. A homeless man approached me, asking for spare change. I handed him what I had and took the chance to ask, “Have you been saved?”

He looked at me, puzzled. “Saved from what?” he asked.

His question stopped me in my tracks. The words I had spoken so effortlessly were meaningless to someone unfamiliar with “Christianese.” Most lost people don’t even realize they’re lost. They’re like London—wandering, unaware of their need for rescue. And I wondered, do we, as Christians, truly grasp what salvation means? It’s not just a concept or a religious term. It’s a supernatural rescue from ultimate danger.

In his opening greeting to the Galatians, Paul doesn’t mince words. He dives straight to the heart of the Gospel: “Jesus gave his life for our sins…in order to rescue us from this evil world…”

The word rescue carries profound weight. It speaks of peril, helplessness, and the inability to save ourselves. We weren’t simply in need of advice, encouragement, or a better set of instructions. We were drowning, overwhelmed by sin, trapped in a world steeped in darkness. We couldn’t climb out on our own. And in that hopeless state, Jesus didn’t just offer a helping hand—He offered Himself. He became the rescue.

This wasn’t a reaction or a backup plan. Paul makes it clear: this rescue was “according to the will of our God and Father.” From the very beginning, it was God’s plan to send His Son to deliver us from the grip of sin and the brokenness of the world. Out of love so vast we can scarcely comprehend it, He gave His Son to pay the ultimate price—His life for our freedom. This is the heart of the Gospel. This is our rescue.

🔥 Reflection

Have you forgotten what you were rescued from? Are there people around you—wandering like London, unaware of the danger—who need someone to go looking for them? When was the last time you truly thanked God for saving you?

🙏 Prayer

Father, thank You for rescuing me when I didn’t even know I was lost. Thank You for sending Jesus—not just to teach or to help, but to save. Help me never lose sight of how much I needed You—and how much You love me. Give me Your heart for those still wandering. Amen.

📣 Call-to-Action

Take time today to remember your own rescue story. Then look for someone else who might still be wandering. Ask God to give you the courage to reach out—not with judgment, but with the love of a Father desperate to bring His children home.