If you’ve been around the Wisconsin District Church of the Nazarene over the last several years, you likely heard the phrase in the title in this blog. Our former district superintendent, Dr. Kevin Donley said this phrase just about every time I had the privilege of hearing him speak. It almost became one of those phrases you expect to hear, but lately this phrase has been on my heart just a bit more.
Luke 19:10 tells us, “for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus didn’t come for the religious leaders, but instead came for those who were on the margins of society, those who had been outcast and forgotten, those who needed healing, those who needed to be restored to God through the Messiah, Jesus. Jesus set an example that should not be lost on us, but instead should be an example of what our lives might look like as disciples (not just followers) of Jesus Christ. In fact, I could argue that one is not truly following Jesus if they are not a disciplined disciple of Jesus. On top of that, if we are disciples of Jesus, we have a very clear command from Jesus before he ascended into heaven. We find this is Matthew 28:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
We are to be disciples who make disciples. This means that we need to be building relationships with people and allowing God to transform us through the power of the Holy Spirit to see people the way God does. We need to allow God to transform our hearts to mirror God’s heart toward the lost and broken around us. Luke 10:2 tells us that “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” People all around us need to hear about the healing power and love of Jesus, who alone is capable of providing forgiveness and a path to restoration to God, as we were originally intended. People desperately need to hear about the God who loves them and pursues them relentlessly, just like the shepherd who left the ninety-nine for the one that was lost.
There are so many ways to do this, but I would suggest we ask ourselves this question. What am I passionate about? Whatever that is, find a way to serve people through that passion. In doing so, you will be the hands and feet of Jesus and earn opportunities to pray for, pray with, and share what God has done for you. The greatest testimony we have is what Jesus did for us. Let’s find ways to serve and seek opportunities to tell people about what this Jesus has done in your life.
Working the harvest fields together,
~ Pastor Todd