Salvation for the Lost

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 4:46 pm Post subject: Salvation for the Lost

Salvation for the Lost

Scripture:

For great power always belonged to you alone: and who shall resist the strength of your arm? For the whole world before you is as the least grain of the balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falls down upon the earth: But you have mercy upon all, because you can do all things, and overlook the sins of men for the sake of repentance. For you love all things that are, and hate none of the things which you have made: for you did not appoint, or make any thing hating it. And how could any thing endure, if you would not; or be preserved, if not called by you? But you spare all: because they are yours, O Lord, who loves souls.

O how good and sweet is your spirit, O Lord, in all things! And therefore you chastise them that err, by little and little: and admonish them, and speak to them, concerning the things wherein they offend: that leaving their wickedness, they may believe in you, O Lord. (Wisdom 11:22-12:2)

Wherefore also we pray always for you: That our God would make you worthy of his vocation and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith in power: That the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and of our gathering together unto him: That you be not easily moved from your sense nor be terrified, neither by spirit nor by word nor by epistle; as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2)

And entering he walked through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of the publicans: and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was: and he could not for the crowd, because he was low of stature. And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, that he might see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus was come to the place, looking up, he saw him and said to him: Zacheus, make haste and come down: for this day I must abide in your house. And he made haste and came down and received him with joy. And when all saw it, they murmured, saying, that he was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner. But Zacheus standing, said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wronged any man of any thing, I restore him fourfold. Jesus said to him: This day is salvation come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:1-10)

Reflection:

When a mother or father observes misbehavior by their child, they are likely to discipline the young one in some fashion. Though the parent is displeased with the behavior of their offspring, the discipline they give does not mean they no longer love their child. The desire of the parent is to correct the behavior of the child because the parent loves and cares for them and wishes for no harm to come to them.

So it is with God, for while our sin is displeasing to Him, we are still the children of His creation. When He reproves us for our sin, His desire is that we will learn, repent and turn away from the evil which harms us and those who surround us. It is by love He created us, it is by love which He corrects us. His commandments are not given to deprive us, but to encourage us, for if we examine them, they are designed that we may live in love of Him and one another. This is to what He seeks to encourage us. This is to what we must encourage our children, for the pain, misery and strife within the world provides evidence of the consequences of turning away from His Holy Word.

As we receive what He teaches, we receive both blessings and responsibilities. Through His Word, we receive the blessing of His love. Through His Word, we receive the responsibility to share of His blessings with all who surround us. As we do, we reflect the image of the One who created us, but as we fail, we squander that for which He created us. Let us, then, be aware of what we do so we may be prepared for the day He will ask for the accounting of our time within this world. We do not know the day or the hour when He will call us to Him, but there is no need for the wringing of hands if we believe in Him and accept the salvation He offers to us.

We should take note and find hope in the fact that Jesus did not spend most of His time in the courts of kings, but in the streets of sinners. He walked among us to minister to the poor, heal the afflicted and to gather in the lost. As Jesus walked through Jericho, He sought out Zacchaeus who at the same time was seeking to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Zacchaeus was not a king, a high priest, or considered a holy one in any fashion, but he was the chief of the local tax collectors, one of the most corrupt professions of the day. We might wonder, then, why would Jesus seek to enter the house of such a man?

As Jesus found Zacchaeus and revealed His desire to stay in the home of Zacchaeus, the people whispered among themselves and judged. Jesus knew the sin of Zacchaeus, but He also knew that within the heart of Zacchaeus was a desire to do what was right and just. Jesus heard the heart of a repentant sinner and went to him to forgive him and to bring salvation.

We all may take hope that despite our sin, Jesus seeks to enter our heart, to forgive our failings and to give His love. His desire is that we set aside our temptations and our selfishness so that we may share with one another the blessings of civility, compassion, charity and love. Let us, then, lift our hearts in thanks and praise for His teaching, His mercy, His forgiveness and His love.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier