“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4, ESV)
Early in His ministry, Jesus explained His mission in the famous words of John 3:16. Jesus explained in this verse that God “so loved the world the HE gave His only Son”. And why do that? “That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”. Thus, Jesus was on a mission, sent by God the Father, accompanied by the Holy Spirit. His purpose was to reach the world with the gospel. Explaining further to Zaccheus, Jesus mentioned that His mission was “to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
God’s work and Jesus’ mission was to reach out to all the souls in the world, especially those who were lost. God wanted to save them. Jesus was to redeem them. This plan is very different from other religions. In most other religions, the person is told to seek God. By Jesus’ own words, we are told that our God seeks us. God wants you in His Kingdom! God wants Your soul to be saved! God reaches out to every person, even those the world may think insignificant.
In our scripture today from Luke 15, Jesus is teaching through the parable of the sheep or the parable of the shepherd. By Jesus’ own admission, if a man loses just one of one hundred sheep, “does he not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). A businessman or politician will completely disagree with Jesus’ logic. They want the best odds to make money or the best odds to win an election. Why jeopardize ninety-nine good sheep to save just one lost sheep? They would consider that poor judgment. But not God! God cares about every last sheep, especially the lost ones. God wants to reach out to them all!
Yesterday, Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah. He was reaching out to college students with facts and information he thought important to their future. He was assassinated because he wanted to get the truth out to college students who were often told lies by left-leaning college intellectuals. When asked about why he was reaching out to college students with the truth at a rally in Springfield, Missouri, in 2023 Kirk said, “all men are created equal in the eyes of God, all men and women…”. Kirk believed that every person counted, every vote counted, every life counted. He was assassinated for this belief, among others. Some people believe that every person is not equal in the sight of God; that some people are more important and others less. Some people also do not believe in God. Some people refuse to believe that every person is worth reaching out or putting your life on the line.
For Jesus and His followers, every life counts. Every soul needs saving.
In the late 19th century, a missionary named William Carey devoted his life to some of the most remote areas in India. Many deemed his efforts as futile, viewing those he sought to save as unimportant or beyond saving. Yet, he remained steadfast, convinced that the gospel applied to everyone. His work led to thousands of conversions for Christ Jesus. Carey was convinced that every single soul holds profound value and potential to God Almighty.
In his comments on Luke 15, David Jeremiah shared this:
“And how glad we are that Jesus didn’t work on the basis of percentages. The shepherd had 99 percent of his flock safely at home. A modern businessman might have figured that the cost of finding the one wasn’t worth the value of the sheep. Take your losses and move on, he might have thought. Yet the shepherd left the ninety-nine and went to find the one. The woman who lost the coin had 90 percent of her wealth. But the man with the lost son had only 50 percent of his. With God, the percentages don’t matter, for every single one is important and worth finding.” (p. 140, Morning and Evening Devotions).
At some time in your life, God reached out to you. When Jesus died on the cross, He died for you. Every soul matters to God, especially yours. Remember that when you want to place judgment on another. Remember that when you feel lost or alone. Remember that when life tears you down. God knows you and your situation intimately. God seeks to save you. Jesus was sent to redeem your soul.
What might you give God in return? Who needs to hear the gospel from you today?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Today, I dedicate myself again to You, Heavenly Father. I am amazed by Your love and concern for my soul! I am blessed to know of Your saving grace in Jesus Christ!
Thank you for sending Jesus into this world to seek and save the lost. Teach me to bear that same burden! May I never look down on another for being poor, lost, alone, needy, or frightened. We all need saving at some point! We all need Your forgiveness and grace! Sin has captured the souls of so many. Worldly passions have stolen the hearts of the lost. I pray for all the world to find redemption. May Your wisdom shine a light on these truths!
Today, my heart is filled with sadness over the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Over the centuries, many have been murdered who spoke the truth. Those who share the gospel are especially in danger. The forces of evil always desire to silence those who reach out in love. Please be with Charlie’s family, with those in Nigeria who have recently been murdered for believing in Jesus, with those in China and the Middle East and Africa who are in danger for speaking out. Watch over all of them, dear Lord.
I pray especially for the family and close friends of Charlie Kirk. I pray You may comfort them with Your heavenly arms. I pray Your justice may rain down upon our land. How many children will lose a father or mother who spoke the truth? How many lives have to be sacrificed to bring the gospel? I pray for missionaries in danger, pastors who have been silenced, parents who fear for their children, churches in unsafe environments.
I love you, dear Lord. I am thankful You found me! May I be obedient to Your will and truthful in my endeavors! Amen.
God’s work and Jesus’ mission was to reach out to all the souls in the world, especially those who were lost. God wanted to save them. Jesus was to redeem them. This plan is very different from other religions. In most other religions, the person is told to seek God. By Jesus’ own words, we are told that our God seeks us. God wants you in His Kingdom! God wants Your soul to be saved! God reaches out to every person, even those the world may think insignificant.
In our scripture today from Luke 15, Jesus is teaching through the parable of the sheep or the parable of the shepherd. By Jesus’ own admission, if a man loses just one of one hundred sheep, “does he not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). A businessman or politician will completely disagree with Jesus’ logic. They want the best odds to make money or the best odds to win an election. Why jeopardize ninety-nine good sheep to save just one lost sheep? They would consider that poor judgment. But not God! God cares about every last sheep, especially the lost ones. God wants to reach out to them all!
Yesterday, Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah. He was reaching out to college students with facts and information he thought important to their future. He was assassinated because he wanted to get the truth out to college students who were often told lies by left-leaning college intellectuals. When asked about why he was reaching out to college students with the truth at a rally in Springfield, Missouri, in 2023 Kirk said, “all men are created equal in the eyes of God, all men and women…”. Kirk believed that every person counted, every vote counted, every life counted. He was assassinated for this belief, among others. Some people believe that every person is not equal in the sight of God; that some people are more important and others less. Some people also do not believe in God. Some people refuse to believe that every person is worth reaching out or putting your life on the line.
For Jesus and His followers, every life counts. Every soul needs saving.
In the late 19th century, a missionary named William Carey devoted his life to some of the most remote areas in India. Many deemed his efforts as futile, viewing those he sought to save as unimportant or beyond saving. Yet, he remained steadfast, convinced that the gospel applied to everyone. His work led to thousands of conversions for Christ Jesus. Carey was convinced that every single soul holds profound value and potential to God Almighty.
In his comments on Luke 15, David Jeremiah shared this:
“And how glad we are that Jesus didn’t work on the basis of percentages. The shepherd had 99 percent of his flock safely at home. A modern businessman might have figured that the cost of finding the one wasn’t worth the value of the sheep. Take your losses and move on, he might have thought. Yet the shepherd left the ninety-nine and went to find the one. The woman who lost the coin had 90 percent of her wealth. But the man with the lost son had only 50 percent of his. With God, the percentages don’t matter, for every single one is important and worth finding.” (p. 140, Morning and Evening Devotions).
At some time in your life, God reached out to you. When Jesus died on the cross, He died for you. Every soul matters to God, especially yours. Remember that when you want to place judgment on another. Remember that when you feel lost or alone. Remember that when life tears you down. God knows you and your situation intimately. God seeks to save you. Jesus was sent to redeem your soul.
What might you give God in return? Who needs to hear the gospel from you today?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Today, I dedicate myself again to You, Heavenly Father. I am amazed by Your love and concern for my soul! I am blessed to know of Your saving grace in Jesus Christ!
Thank you for sending Jesus into this world to seek and save the lost. Teach me to bear that same burden! May I never look down on another for being poor, lost, alone, needy, or frightened. We all need saving at some point! We all need Your forgiveness and grace! Sin has captured the souls of so many. Worldly passions have stolen the hearts of the lost. I pray for all the world to find redemption. May Your wisdom shine a light on these truths!
Today, my heart is filled with sadness over the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Over the centuries, many have been murdered who spoke the truth. Those who share the gospel are especially in danger. The forces of evil always desire to silence those who reach out in love. Please be with Charlie’s family, with those in Nigeria who have recently been murdered for believing in Jesus, with those in China and the Middle East and Africa who are in danger for speaking out. Watch over all of them, dear Lord.
I pray especially for the family and close friends of Charlie Kirk. I pray You may comfort them with Your heavenly arms. I pray Your justice may rain down upon our land. How many children will lose a father or mother who spoke the truth? How many lives have to be sacrificed to bring the gospel? I pray for missionaries in danger, pastors who have been silenced, parents who fear for their children, churches in unsafe environments.
I love you, dear Lord. I am thankful You found me! May I be obedient to Your will and truthful in my endeavors! Amen.