People share many things through their social networks but how significant they are may differ from one account to another. From food to friends, good news to bad reports, from highs to lows, people either randomly or deliberately post their photos and thoughts.
There even those who posted photos of themselves sleeping being taken by themselves. (I know that my statement doesn’t really make sense.)
We share our thoughts about a nice new movie, a mega sale coming up, passing the board exam among many others.
But while we share a lot of things that may seem inconsequential, why can’t we share the most important and powerful thing that has radically changed our lives? If the gospel of Jesus has transformed us, why are we not sharing it?
I reckon we don’t understand the reason behind why God wants us to.
Jesus told a parable in Luke 15:1-7. A shepherd lost one sheep. And instead of staying with the 99, he risks everything to run after the 1. Now THAT doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense because leaving the 99 in the open fields mean wolves ravaging them. It also doesn’t make sense because it seems that staying with the 99 may sound more logical.
But Jesus said that the shepherd runs after the 1.
Why? Because each one matter to God.
Every lost person matters to God.
What does it mean to leave the 99 and run after the 1?
1. VALUE THE LOST.
Seeing people the way Jesus sees them is the starting point. Oftentimes, we see people on the basis of the externals – cars they drive, watches on their wrists, address on their business card, clothes they wear.
But people don’t matter to God because of these. They matter to God because each have been created in the image and likeness of God.
As long as there’s one lost person out there, we have not accomplished our mission.
2. PREACH THE GOSPEL.
Evangelism seems like a daunting word. But simply put, it is sharing the good news of Jesus’ salvation by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It simpler terms, it is talking to others about what we’ve experienced so that others can experience Christ as well.
Is it just about numbers? Yes and no.
Numbers are important to God that He wrote a book entitled Numbers.
No, because it’s not just about numbers.
Because behind every number is an individual.
Behind every individual is a name.
Behind every name is a story.
And every story matters to God.
Valuing the lost is the starting point. Preaching the gospel is the action point.
3. CELEBRATE THE FOUND.
When the shepherd finds the lost sheep, he calls all his friends to party.
This is how heaven sees when even just one comes to Christ. All of heaven parties.
We cannot share what we have not experienced.
If we have not experienced the life changing power of Jesus, there’s no way we’re sharing it. It’s like a salesman talking you into buying something he doesn’t even believe in.
TWICE MINE
Let me illustrate using a story.
Tommy carried his new boat to the edge of the river. He carefully placed it in the water and slowly let out the string. How smoothly the boat sailed! Tommy sat in the warm sunshine, admiring the little boat that he had built. Suddenly a strong current caught the boat. Tommy tried to pull it back to shore, but the string broke. The little boat raced downstream.
Tommy ran along the sandy shore as fast as he could. But his little boat soon slipped out of sight. All afternoon he searched for the boat. Finally, when it was too dark to look any longer, Tom mysadly went home.
The next day, on the way home from school, Tommy spotted a boat just like his in a store window. When he got closer, he could see — sure enough — it was his!
Tommy hurried to the store manager: “Sir, that’s my boat in your window! I made it!”
“Sorry, son, but someone else brought it in this morning. If you want it, you’ll have to buy it for one dollar.”
Tommy ran home and counted all his money. Exactly one dollar! When he reached the store, he rushed to the counter. “Here’s the money for my boat.”
As he left the store, Tommy hugged his boat and said, “Now you’re twice mine. First, I made you and now I bought you.”
Think about what Tommy said. It’s exactly what God is saying to you and to me.
Now you’re twice mine. First I made you and now I bought you.
God made us in His image and likeness. But it wasn’t He who broke the string. We deliberately, intentionally and rebelliously broke that string.
But in spite of that, He was the One who pursued and made an all out search for us.
We are twice His. First He made us, now He bought us… a price we couldn’t cough up.
We owed a debt we couldn’t pay. And He paid a debt He didn’t owe.
That’s radical love.
And that radical love demands a radical response – to go out into all the nations and preach that radical love that we’ve experienced.
Facebook Comments