Matthew 18:12 If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off.
“One soul matters.”
You and I matter to the Lord. We are not one among the 8.023 billion people in the world. Our soul, salvation and our success matters to God. In reality, a shepherd would not abandon his flock to go after the one lost sheep. He would put the entire flock at risk if he does so, but not so in the Kingdom of God. Jesus would go after the ONE lost soul, relentlessly.
Jesus was the ultimate epitome of leaders the world has ever had. He led by example. Jesus heard the cry of the demoniac who was crying from the tomb, across the lake from the region of the Gerasenes. Gerasenes was located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee which was the land of the descendants of the tribe of Gad. So, the man was a Jew who was bound by many demons. The demons in the man proudly called themselves “Legions”; (Roman Legion comprised 6,000 soldiers). “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many” (Mark 5:9). The man was not tormented by one demon but by a large lethal demonic mob. He was living in the grave, crying night and day and cutting himself with stones. Iron chains could not bind him but he was bound by many demons. Jesus cared for that ONE soul and set him free.
“If you were the only sinner to be saved and set-free, Jesus would have died for you.”
The Power of One:
1. Soul: Every soul matters. The addicts, alcoholics and abusers matter to God. The souls of terrorists, rebels and even the sadistic narcissist, matter to God. Pray for souls with compassion.
2. Salvation: Jesus died for the salvation of all. God so loved the “world”. World includes those whom we ostracize, hate and overlook.
3. Shelter: Jesus cared for the self-harming demonic and brought him under the safe shelter of salvation. We are called to do the same.
“ONE soul matters”. “Every soul matters to God.”
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, give me your heart of compassion to love and serve every soul that is bound, broken and bruised. Amen.
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