Burden For The Lost #preaching

The NJ Podcast

Burden For The Lost

Brothers and Sisters

I'd like to kick off today's discussion with some humour. Two fish crashed into a wall of concrete. Turning to face the other, one exclaimed, "Dam!" Well, I hope that made you smile since we are talking about a serious topic today: our responsibility for the lost.

Today's verse comes from Luke 15:4–7. "Let's say one of you has 100 sheep, and one of them is lost. He doesn't abandon the other 99 in the open countryside and pursues the missing sheep until he finds it. And when he does, he enthusiastically carries it home while carrying it on his shoulders. He then gathers his neighbours and friends and declares, "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep." In the same way, I assure you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who turns to God than over 99 perfect people who do not require repentance.

In this chapter, Jesus unmistakably conveys the Father's concern for people who are lost. God gladly left His seat in Heaven, took on human form, and willingly died on a cross because His burden for the lost is so great. That is the extent of God's compassion for the lost.

We are obligated to bear a portion of this weight and experience sorrow for those who do not yet comprehend the depth of Christ's love. Jesus gave the disciples the following instruction in Mark 16:15: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

Ask God to break your heart for what breaks His if you don't feel the burden for the lost. In accordance with Ezekiel 36:26, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." We will have a heavy burden for those who do not know God when our hearts are in harmony with His.

Do you recall the tale of the Apostle Paul? Paul, a former persecutor of Christians, encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, which had a profound impact on him. Following this event, Paul travelled nonstop and relentlessly preached the Gospel out of a deep burden for the lost.

Father, please give us Your heart for those who are lost. Let's pray this together. Help us to carry a heavy weight for those who do not yet know Your love rather than to be apathetic or dismissive. Help us, Lord, to boldly and persistently spread the good news. We ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Let's shoulder this weight for the unfound this week, Church. May us never stop praying for, loving, and extending ourselves to those who do not yet know Christ, just as the shepherd rejoices over the lost sheep. Every soul matters to God, thus it makes sense that it should matter to us as well.