DAY 9 | Seek the Lost | Mandy Faucher
I used to believe I was a failure at reaching the lost. Instead of having testimonies to share of others I've lead to Christ, I have stories of people calling me inappropriate names, abandonment, and me watching loved ones I've bought Christmas gifts for throw them unopened into the trash. The enemy had me convinced I was ineffective in sharing Jesus because of their reactions and I let him silence me for years.
That of course was not true. It wasn't about me being ineffective, it was about the spiritual state and condition of that person's heart. In Luke 19 we find the story of Zacchaeus. He was a lost tax collector who had heard about Jesus and was very curious about Him. He climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus, and when Jesus saw him he told him I must be a guest in your house. Salvation came to Zacchaeus' house that night. Jesus' purpose has always been to seek and save the lost from an eternal life without Him.
Sometimes the people we talk to about Jesus will have their hearts stirred already like Zacchaeus. They've heard about Jesus, they're curious to know more and may intentionally seek you out because you know Jesus. But sometimes the people you talk to may have hardened hearts. They may have never heard of him, or they have heard of him and want nothing to do with him. Let me encourage you: You sharing Jesus may not be what they WANT to hear, but it's what they NEED to hear. They may not recognize that they are lost, and they need someone to help guide them. It can be uncomfortable and their reactions may not be what you were expecting. But if you are obedient in sharing the gospel, the seed of God's truth will be planted in them and God will water it at just the right time. Trust that God is working in them, even if they don't receive what you say. After all, it's God that does the work in them, not us.
Do you live with Jesus' purpose to save the lost? If we are to be followers of Jesus, that needs to be our purpose too.
Think of 1 person today that you can share Jesus with, and step out in faith by reaching out to them this week. No matter what the outcome may be, hearing about Jesus is what they need!
That of course was not true. It wasn't about me being ineffective, it was about the spiritual state and condition of that person's heart. In Luke 19 we find the story of Zacchaeus. He was a lost tax collector who had heard about Jesus and was very curious about Him. He climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus, and when Jesus saw him he told him I must be a guest in your house. Salvation came to Zacchaeus' house that night. Jesus' purpose has always been to seek and save the lost from an eternal life without Him.
Sometimes the people we talk to about Jesus will have their hearts stirred already like Zacchaeus. They've heard about Jesus, they're curious to know more and may intentionally seek you out because you know Jesus. But sometimes the people you talk to may have hardened hearts. They may have never heard of him, or they have heard of him and want nothing to do with him. Let me encourage you: You sharing Jesus may not be what they WANT to hear, but it's what they NEED to hear. They may not recognize that they are lost, and they need someone to help guide them. It can be uncomfortable and their reactions may not be what you were expecting. But if you are obedient in sharing the gospel, the seed of God's truth will be planted in them and God will water it at just the right time. Trust that God is working in them, even if they don't receive what you say. After all, it's God that does the work in them, not us.
Do you live with Jesus' purpose to save the lost? If we are to be followers of Jesus, that needs to be our purpose too.
Think of 1 person today that you can share Jesus with, and step out in faith by reaching out to them this week. No matter what the outcome may be, hearing about Jesus is what they need!
Posted in 21 Days of Devos