By: Becca Kuest
Our Global Outreach staff recently attended a conference around the topic of bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth, specifically to the unreached places. Rick Warren, senior pastor at Saddleback Church, ended the conference with a story about his father. Near the end of his life, Rick's father was very sick, yet he relentlessly tried to get up from his bed. Rick and other family members continuously refused him from getting up, because He was so weak. In his feeble attempt, Rick's father muttered a statement over and over again. "Gotta reach one more for Jesus. One more for Jesus. Need to reach one more for Jesus."
Are you getting up with the goal of reaching one more for Jesus? I admit that most days I don't. Instead, my mind is fixed on all the things that need to get done that day, yet I wonder how many opportunities I've missed to reach more for Jesus. But thankfully, God has not forgotten about the one.
"Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." - Luke 15:1-7 (NIV)
My dog Griffey gives me a daily picture of this pursuit of the lost. When we go to the dog park in our complex, Griffey loves to play fetch with other people. In fact, he won't even bring his ball to me when other people are around. He will bring it to every other person in the park, making sure that everyone has the opportunity to play with him. He will even run up to people walking along the path outside of the gate, hoping they'll stop and play fetch with him too. Some don't acknowledge him. Some flash him a smile or say hello, while others will actually stop to throw the ball for him. There are even those who stay to play a couple rounds with him.
I wonder what our world would like if we lived every day like Rick's father, with a Kingdom-mindset to reach one more, or like Griffey, with a willing spirit to share with anyone and everyone.
It can seem like a daunting task to talk to one person about Jesus let alone trying to reach 7,000+ people groups that still don't know about Jesus. But God equips us for the task. He goes ahead of us and empowers with His Spirit, His Church, and other unique gifts.
Let's not miss the opportunity. Go out today and use your gifts to share Jesus with anyone and everyone. You might get a smile, maybe a hello, and maybe even have one who decides to lean in and know more.
The harvest is plentiful... Who are you going to reach for Jesus today?