Shell Perris looks at what we lose ourselves in

Shell Perris

I recently preached at my church in Stockport and got my sermon title from the well-known 'eminem' song, "Lose Yourself". A few years ago, I was in a prayer meeting before doing a concert and for some reason I couldn't stop singing the chorus of "Lose Yourself". It just kept going round and round in my head.

"Lose yourself in the music, the moment, you own it - you better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow - this opportunity comes once in a lifetime."

I stood there wondering why on earth I was singing that song...after all I am a bit of a pop chick at heart!! Suddenly, as clear as anything, I heard God say to me, "Don't lose yourself in the music, Shell...lose yourself in me." WOW! Hearing those words made me fall to my knees and I remember just getting lost in the presence of God. I didn't care about anything that was going on around me because I was so aware that this opportunity to worship God was one not to be missed. All I desired was to be with God...just me and him. That night, I realised that the only thing I wanted to get lost in was God.

The question I want to ask you today is this...what are you lost in? What are the things that you spend most of your life doing? You see - it is so easy to lose ourselves in things that we shouldn't be lost in. Some people are lost in drug addictions. Some people are lost in sexual immoralities. Some people are lost in anger and violence. Some people are lost in pain because of things that have happened in the past. Some people are lost in self-harm. Some people are lost in abusive relationships. Some people are lost in witchcraft and false spiritualism. Some people feel so lost that they can't even remember the way back.

Listen to this:

Then Jesus told them this story: "Suppose one of you has 100 sheep but loses one of them. Then he will leave the other 99 sheep in the open field and go out and look for the lost sheep until he finds it. And when he finds it, he happily puts it on his shoulders and goes home. He calls to his friends and neighbours and says, 'Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep.'
[Luke 15:3-6 - Youth Bible]

The truth of the matter is that we have all experienced or will all experience what it feels like to be lost. I have experienced being lost in pain because of things that have happened in the past. I have experienced being lost in pride and even my own ego. And just like that lost sheep, Jesus found me and brought me home. He didn't scold me for wandering away. He just wrapped his arms around me and loved me.

You might feel lost like the sheep in that story. You might be struggling with one of the issues that I've mentioned. You might even feel like no-one's particularly bothered about finding you. But I know someone who is bothered.

Imagine you are the lost sheep and Jesus is the shepherd frantically trying to find you. Jesus will keep on searching for you until he finds you and when he finds you, he will wrap his arms around you and carry you home. And the best bit is that however far away you are...he will never give up on you.