Day 18: To Seek and Save the Lost
Bible passage: Luke 19:1–10; Genesis 12:1–3; Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 1:8
God Has a Plan
Today is Monday 15th of April 2019. Welcome to Day 18 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. This is Holy Week. On Friday we will remember the cross. Today we ask why Jesus came.
He told us Himself, in the house of a tax collector whom nobody liked. “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 (NLT)
The God of Purpose
A Purpose from the Beginning
God did not make up His plan as He went along. When He called Abram, He already had the whole world in view. He promised to bless him and to make him a blessing, and said that all the families on earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:1–3).
From that day on, the Bible follows a single thread. God is bringing people from every nation back to Himself.
He Seeks
Zacchaeus had climbed a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus. But it was Jesus who stopped, looked up and called him by name (Luke 19:5). Zacchaeus thought he was the one doing the looking. In fact he was being looked for.
The word Jesus uses is “seek”. God does not wait for lost people to find their own way home. He goes after them, and He will not give up.
He Saves
By the end of that meal Zacchaeus was a changed man. He was giving away half of what he owned and putting right the wrongs he had done. Jesus said that salvation had come to that house (Luke 19:8–9). To be found by Jesus is to be made new.
Our Part in His Purpose
Go
Before He returned to His Father, Jesus handed His mission on to His followers. They were to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them and teaching them to obey everything He had commanded. And He gave them a promise. He would be with them always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19–20).
With Power
He did not send them in their own strength. They would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
The mission begins where we are and spreads outwards. A witness is simply someone who tells what they have seen and heard. We do not need all the answers. We need to be willing to say what Jesus has done for us.
Three Steps for Today
Praise Him. Thank God that He came looking for you, and that He never stops looking for those who are lost.
Ask who. Ask God to whom He is sending you. Write down the names that come to mind.
Ask what. Ask Him what He is calling you to do. It may be a prayer, an invitation to church this Easter or a conversation you have been putting off.
Prayer for Today:
Lord Jesus, thank You that You came to seek and save the lost, and that You found me. Thank You that You have not given up on anyone I love. Show me my part in Your purpose. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and make me Your witness. Give me courage to speak, beginning with the people closest to me. Amen.
Keep going
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