Jesus is passionate about the lost hearing about God’s love for them and His desire to “rescue” them from destruction and darkness. Sometimes I think we hear these words and claim them so many times that they lose their meaning and purpose.
If Jesus would speak today to us, I think He might say something like this:
You have no idea who I really am or the cost of what I did.
I had a throne and angels worshiping Me. My power created the stars, and my mind calls them all by name. I made you out of the dust of the earth and walked with Adam and Eve and gave them everything, for they were precious to Me. But they bought into the lie that life apart from Me was better and more fulfilling than fellowship with Me.
I gave Moses my moral standard, David my presence, and Elijah my boldness. I was Daniel’s defense in the presence of lions. To Isaiah I revealed my glory, and to Esther I gave my courage. I was always there with my people and my love never was taken from them even when they rebelled.
Then came the time for the reconciliation of my fallen brothers and sisters.
So I laid aside my glory. I gave up my privileges and rights as King of the Universe and Lord of all. I humbled myself, because mankind was personally precious to me. And only by becoming a human could your rebellion toward My Father be put upon me.
So I gave it all up. I allowed my creation to strip Me, spit on Me, kill Me, and humiliate Me … because you were precious to Me and of great value to my Father.
So now, sin is paid for, redemption is free, and hope is eternal once again. My work is finished. My love is freely available to all by My Father’s act of grace and mercy.
You who know Me know I live in you. Everything you have is from my grace and my deep, passionate love for you. Now that I am the tabernacle in your life, may I ask you for one thing?
My desire is that people all around you hear about my redeeming love and forgiveness. They need to understand that they can know and experience Me personally and eternally. Since you have experienced all of that personally, will you go on my behalf and tell of my forgiveness and abundant mercy?
My method of reaching others with my love is for you to tell my story. Will you tell others all around you that they can know Me as you know Me? That’s the only way they’ll know that new life and eternal life can be freely given to them.
Will you embrace the urgency of today and seek the lost, tell them my story, and lay down your life for the gospel?
I hope you will. You are the hope of the world. I am ready to work through you if you go and tell.