What do you think is the best way to find long-lost relatives?
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
"Enough to Go Around"
June 2, 2017
Luke 2:10-11 - And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
What do you think is the best way to find long-lost relatives?
I suppose there are many good ways. For example, you could hire a private eye to do some sleuthing. You could try your hand on some of the social media like Facebook. In recent years a person might achieve satisfying results going online and searching official records.
Me, I think there is a better way. All you need to do is win the lottery. From what I've seen, if you win the lottery, all your relatives, near ones, new ones, distant ones, and unlikely ones will beat a quick-time path to your door.
About the only one who will get there faster is the tax man.
Now if that's the case, you can readily understand why some people when they come into a large, unexpected amount of money wish to keep a low profile.
Such a person is the English lady who, 30 years ago, paid 10 pounds ($15) for a piece of costume jewelry to which she had taken a shine. She liked that bauble -- wore it almost every day for the last three decades. Indeed, she would be wearing it still if someone hadn't told her that this trinket was, in reality, a 26.27-carat white diamond.
A quick visit to Sotheby's Auction House told the lady two things:
1. Sotheby's would be more than glad to auction off her ring.
2. She would be about 350,000 pounds richer ($454,000) when the auction was over.
So now all the anonymous lady has to do is wait and try to remain just as anonymous next month as she has been this month. It's going to be quite the trick since her story, in Great Britain at least, has regularly been on the front pages.
Never having been in that individual's shoes, I can kind of see why she would want to avoid all the media hype, all the salesmen's phone calls, all the friends and family members who might want a slice of the pie. I can almost understand why she would like to keep that good news to herself. After all, $454,000 is a lot of money, but it still will only stretch so far.
On the other hand, I can think of no reason why anyone would want to keep the good news of the Gospel secret. It's not like there is a limit to God's grace and one day you will wake up and find your heavenly salvation account has been wiped out.
The reality is this: when God sent His Son into this world, He came bearing enough good will to provide great joy for all of lost and sinful humanity. There is no series of events that can touch, diminish, deplete, or remove the Lord's desire to forgive and save us.
That is why the Savior said we should preach repentance and forgiveness all around the world. It is why His people consider it an honor to share the wealth the Savior has given to them.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant that I may never try to hoard the gift of salvation that Jesus has won for me. Let me, as You have said I should, share the "good news of great joy" with all around me. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
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