5.3 Seek and Save

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
Luke 19:10, NLT  


Jesus spoke these words about himself in response to a crowd of self-righteous, grumbling humans. The crowd is stunned and indignant because Jesus has chosen to have dinner with Zacchaeus, a much-hated tax collector.  You know the story. Upon hearing that Jesus was coming, Zacchaeus climbs up a tree for a better view, because he was too short to see over the crowd. Scripture describes what happens next:

Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.  But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. (Luke 19:6-7, NLT)

After their meal together, Zacchaeus emerges a transformed man. And Jesus proclaims for all to hear “Salvation has come to this home today… the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19: 9-10). In that one precious phrase, Jesus sums up the entire purpose of His arrival on earth.

Jesus came to seek and save “those who are lost.”  Have you ever realized how easy it would have been for Jesus to just open a “central headquarters” on earth and let people come seek him out? Instead, when we read through the Gospels, we see Jesus in perpetual motion, constantly moving toward people. Which people? Lost people: the woman caught in adultery, the man at the pool of Bethesda, the Samaritan woman, the man filled with a legion of demons, all of them recipients of a Savior who insisted on “seeking” them out.

I love that Jesus was so clear about his purpose. I love that Jesus values lost people so much that He insists on seeking so he can save.  Jesus is still “seeking and saving” the lost. Only now, He uses us to do so. Today, be reminded that His purpose is our purpose too.  As you go about your daily routines, ask Jesus to help you be mindful to always be about seeking the lost so they too can be saved.  

Prayer:  Jesus, I want your purpose to be my purpose too. I realize that I am daily surrounded by lost people. Help me to take every opportunity to seek out those who are lost so that they too can be saved.

Commitment:  Today I will be intentional about seeking out the lost people who are already a part of my daily life. I will look for opportunities to plant seeds that will lead them to salvation.

Posted in

No Comments