Luke 19:10 “…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Priority: One!
Place no faith in numbers which
manipulate flesh…whether likings or lovings nor all of the rest.
For such tests are to try us, to spurn
us to action which often conflicts with GOD’s purpose.
For the one HE went after to spark it’s return. Ninety nine then remained…having already learned.
But for love CHRIST came after “this one” who’d ceased learning, whose “personal certainty” caused them to stray.
So we thank the LORD GOD that HIS caring continues to teach us so we’re not left to Self’s devices.
Yes! How great is the FATHER’s compassion — so endless! For each of these “ones” then, we must also go!
As HIServants retrieved in time past to rescue these strays in the present,
Whitney
Devotional: When I reread Luke 19:10 “…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”….
…I think of the following verse.
Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”
First, the one that strayed was already of HIS flock…which is why HE went after that soul. That’s a beautiful truth and eternal security verse, right?!
Often time people just focus getting bodies in the door without equipping those already within.
Now this isn’t about discipleship or mentorship.
Instead it about being “CHRIST heart-equipped” to zealously go after “the one” or “ones” in each of our lives.
In like manner, we can’t be distracted by chasing numbers that we derail our uncompromising walk with CHRIST.
Simply gaining large followings can easily steal the time better spent on going out to the Lost.
This is because many of “these little ones” aren’t coming near the church doors.
Now it’s said that “Numbers don’t lie!” It’s a frequent cliché but the truth is…they do. Here’s how.
They do WHEN the greatest focus is mostly on keeping up attendance numbers.
Churches are for the most part, positive cash flow organizations and run as a business there’s both positives and negatives.
However the focus must not be formula driven such as “Greater Numbers = Greater $ = Greafer # of programs.
There are wonderful large churches to be sure but the focus must be lovingly on the Lost knowing CHRIST and then helping with the depth of one’s walk WITH CHRIST.
Otherwise the distractions and cares of the world will cause them to shrink back and wither away.
But humbly AND jointly measuring spiritual depth WITH each congregational listener…would take far more time than most are willing to give.
So numbers also lie when we only look at our own FaceBook page to look at the only upfront statistic they measure.
Numbers of followers and friends.
But higher numbers don’t mean deeper “in HIS footprints” numbers. And we are all called to a deeper daily walk with our love and our LORD.
So speaking to self most of all, we must walk fully in HIS love without compromising HIS WORD of Truth.
Matthew 18:14 “So it is not the will of your FATHER WHO is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish.”
These priceless “ones” are the Lost of HIS fold that HE lovingly sent us after!
So with the heart and love of CHRIST, daily re-placing others ahead of ourselves…
…let’s prioritize the Kingdom of GOD by witnessing to “these little ones” and “growing” with them.
Amen? Amen!
2CJC 