Seek and Save The Lost ~ Luke 19:1-10

           Last night I had the privilege to attend the launch service of the church plant that my brother, Jay, is serving at—Declaration Church in Bryan, TX. The Lord definitely moved in power throughout the service by encouraging and convicting me. Blake Chilton taught on the story of Zaccheaus. Yes, Zaccheaus the wee little man who climbed up in the sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see. Blake talked about how Jesus pursued Zaccheaus even though he was known as a liar and a sinner. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man [Jesus] came to seek and save the lost [Zaccheaus].” After Blake read this verse, he challenged us by asking if we are actively seeking the lost. “We” being Christians, who are made in the image of God and called to be holy as Jesus is holy (1 Peter 1:16).

             As he made this challenge, the word “seek” stood out to me. You see, my prayer the last half-year has been that The Lord would show me opportunities to love the lost. For the past six months I have just been sitting and waiting for an opportunity to love the lost to, and have not been seeking that opportunity. It’s as if I have been playing Hide and Go Seek and have been the person seeking, but instead of going to find the people hiding, I sit there expecting them to jump out at me. It’s as if, instead of saying, “ready or not here I come!”, I’ve said “ready or not" and just sat at home base. I have been passive instead of active in looking for opportunities to love to the lost. Through Blake’s challenge, The Lord was telling me that He wants to use me, but in order to do so I have to be active in seeking the lost. [Especially here at conservative Texas A&M University and in my super Christian bubble.]

            We ended the service by singing “Oceans” and “With Everything” by Hillsong United. Both of these songs have lyrics about trusting The Lord and being used by Him. In the past, I’ve sang these songs as a prayer saying that I trust Him with my future and asking Him to use me in the future. As I was singing the songs last night and praying that He would help me to seek the lost in my future, He convicted me once again. You see, as I was praying this for my distant future and not the here and now. I was thinking that my “future” meant this summer or next year or when I’m married. It was in this moment that Jesus so very sweetly reminded me that he can use me this very week or even tomorrow to save the lost. I was crying out “Spirit, lead me where my trust is with out borders, let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wonder and my feet will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior…” for my distant future and not the here and now of today.

            So, my challenge is that you would actively seek to love the lost and that you would pray and expect Him to take you deeper than your feet could ever wander TODAY.