Luke 15:4 – Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? (NIV)

I share my office at work with the ambulance crew. One day, the crew's chief misplaced a radio. She searched and searched but it was nowhere to be found. Yet still, she couldn't rest, even though there were other radios available. Why? Because all the radios were valuable and the loss of even one was important.

Finally, she drove out to the landfill and began to root through the garbage — a most unsavoury task — but lo and behold, that which was lost was finally found. And upon its discovery, she pulled it from the trash, clipped it to her belt, and returning to town, joyfully shared the good news.

People are valuable, too. Not just some people, but all people.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

In sending His one and only Son to earth to die for all mankind, God spared no expense or effort when it came to seeking the lost. Thus, as God's people, neither should we. How often do I, do we find ourselves not wanting to associate with certain people: the unwashed, the unsavoury, the hurtful, the ignorant, the liars, and the cheats, or just those who are simply different from us and our little group. Yet Christ died for each and every one of these people, including me and each one of us, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

I was unwashed, unsavoury, hurtful, ignorant, a liar, and a cheat, and yet, in all-encompassing love and compassion, He sought me out until He found me.

Today, each of us will meet, talk to, rub shoulders with, or even just think of those who may not yet be found. As we do so, may our hearts be open and attentive to the leading of the Holy Spirit if He should prompt us to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with them, just as it was once shared with us.

Prayer: Father God, may there be great rejoicing in heaven as You use Your people this day as holy instruments to share the life-saving, life-changing power of the gospel, that those who are lost may be found. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
Send your feedback to the author