For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10 NABRE
Jesus makes this statement to Zacchaeus a chief tax collector who repents and repays after meeting Jesus. Luke depicts this as the role of Jesus as Savior. We read several stories of Jesus placing priority on finding the lost; the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son, all end with great celebration, the lost have been found. Jesus does what seems the opposite of what is right, leaving ninety-nine sheep to search one lost. What parent losing a child says, well thankfully I have two others. No, we never stop looking for that lost child. Jesus came to seek what is lost. We should do as He did. We should use our prayer, a force for certain gain, to request guidance to search for sinners, using prayer to help in the work Jesus came to accomplish. If our vocation is not to be a disciple then we should pray more powerfully for our own conversion. Prayer is almost the only possible practical means we have of doing good for the lost, helping Jesus in His work of saving His children and rescuing them from mortal danger, those He so passionately loves, whom in His witness He desires we love as much as He does Himself.
If our lives are devoted to discipleship, our vocation will be fruitful only if we pray for those we want to convert, for our Lord gives only to him who asks, opens only to him who knocks. If God is to put effective words on our lips, inspire our hearts with good ideas, and to put good will into our souls, we need grace. We must ask for it, to receive it. Whatever our way of life, let us pray a great deal for the conversion of sinners, for it is for them above all that Jesus worked, suffered and prayed.
Do you seek the lost? Do you pray for conversion of sinners?
If God is to put effective words on our lips, inspire our hearts with good ideas, and to put good will into our souls, we need grace. We must ask for it, to receive it. Click To Tweet#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #lost #seek #Luke #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways