To seek and save the lost (R)
By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Luke 19:7, 9-10 "All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”…Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” - NIV
It was a huge surprise to Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector for Jesus to choose to visit him. Jesus was passing Jericho with the huge crowds. Zacchaeus wanted to see him, but being short, he could not. He ran and climbed a tree where Jesus stopped, called him by name and offered to go to his house. Everyone knew him to be a sinner and were surprised that Jesus would choose to be a guest to a ‘sinner.’ That’s when Jesus mentioned that His mission was to seek and save the lost.
Zacchaeus was rich and wealthy but lost without God. Jesus, despite the multitudes around Him, sought out this one lost sinner and gave him full attention. He came to seek, find and save the lost in sin. He still does it today.
So many hopeless helpless people feel just part of the crowd where no one even knows or notices them. But to God, you are not just part of the crowd. He knows you by name and identifies you. He doesn’t generalize people. Every individual human being, regardless of status, position or possessions, is special to Him and He gives full attention as He did for Bartimaues a blind beggar. Salvation came to Zacchaeus home that day when he welcomed the Lord. You too can welcome Him into your life and recieve salvation.
Luke 15:7 "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
Shalom children of God.