For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. - Luke 19:10 (NIV)

Devotion:

When we open our Bibles to Luke 15, we find Jesus being criticized by the Pharisees as someone who "welcomes sinners and eats with them" (v. 2). In response, Jesus told three parables that are listed in Luke's gospel back-to-back-to-back. You are probably familiar with all three: the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son—also known as the prodigal son.

Each of these stories have a similar story arc. Something of great value is lost. An all out search ensues to find what is lost. When what was lost has been found, there is a great celebration. More often than not, these parables are used to emphasize the truth that finding people who are lost and far from God matters to him. Our Father holds nothing back—not even his only Son—in pursuit of those who are lost. If lost people matter so much to God, then they should matter to us as well. This is absolutely true and undeniable.

Let's drill down for just a moment on the idea that God seeks us. We often talk about finding Jesus—as well we should—but do we ever really stop to consider what it means that before we even knew God, he was seeking us? He was pursuing each one of us? Do we grasp a love so vast that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us?" (Romans 5:8).

The late Dutch priest, pastor, and theologian Henri Nouwen describes this incredible love in his book The Return of the Prodigal Son:

God loves us before any human person can show love to us. He loves us with a "first" love, an unlimited, unconditional love, wants us to be His beloved children, and tells us to become as loving as Himself ... Now I wonder if I sufficiently realized that all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not "How am I to find God?" but "How am I to let myself be found by Him?" The question is not "How am I to know God?" but "How am I to let myself be known by God?" And, finally, the question is not "How am I to love God?" but "How am I to let myself be loved by God?" … It may sound strange, but God wants to find me as much as, if not more than, I want to find God.

Without question, Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. But he keeps pursuing us, longing for us to enter into a deeper intimacy with him. Why does he pursue us? So that we can more fully know the Father's heart. So our souls can continue to be filled to overflowing with his unmatched joy. So we can truly live each and every day the abundant life he promises.

You may find yourself in a season where you feel far from God. Even the most faithful, pious, and devoted among us can experience "the dark night of the soul." We have this promise in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart." Why is this true? Because as you are seeking God, he is seeking you with a zeal we cannot even fathom. It is in the Father's nature to seek us. As the Father's dearly loved child, you are worth seeking. And he will find you.

PRAYER

Lord, I thank you that you loved me even before I understood what love means. Thank you for seeking me, saving me, and filling me with the fullness of your joy. Lord, continue to pursue me even as I continue to seek your face, so I can truly know your heart and love others as you have loved me. Amen

Michael Milligan
Pastor, Pastoral Care

Michael Milligan is Pastor of Pastoral Care at Crossings. He is privileged to minister to the Crossings family and walk beside them through seasons of sickness, sorrow, and setbacks of life. Michael is blessed to have the opportunity to "marry, bury, and everything in-between" as part of his ministry to the church and the local community. 

Resources

• Watch A Father’s Love from Senior Pastor Marty Grubbs
• Watch The Parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son from Pastor Terry Feix
• Listen to How Deep the Father’s Love from Crossings Sanctuary Worship

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Explore other devotions like this one any time at crossings.church/devotions.