Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!

Luke 15:1-2 (NLT)

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51 (NLT)

The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up? But Jesus turned and rebuked them.

Luke 9:51-55 (NLT)

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?

And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

Luke 15:8-10

A parable is used to get us to notice something we have overlooked…or to take seriously something we have dismissed as unimportant.

Eugene Peterson

DO YOU VALUE WHAT IS LOST?

HOW HARD ARE YOU WILLING TO LOOK?

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.

At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

BOTTOM LINE:

Your ONE is worth pursuing just like Jesus pursued you!

THE CHALLENGE: 

Invest in your ONE!