Identity — Adoption - Thursday
TODAY’S VERSE
Luke 15:7
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (ESV)
My papaw was a good man, but Scripture teaches that simply being good alone can’t save us. The truth is that we all need to repent of our sin and surrender to Jesus as Lord. Papaw was no different. He was sick and dying of cancer, and he knew he wouldn’t last long. Unfortunately, we didn’t find out until about three months before he passed because he hadn’t told anyone. At that time, I wanted nothing more than to see him surrender to Jesus.
So I prayed for him, and I asked a pastor I knew well if he’d stop by and visit him. He went several times over the next few months. They just talked about life, and occasionally Jesus came up in conversation. On his last visit, shortly before Papaw died, he told this same pastor who’d been visiting him that he felt convicted of his sin and needed to repent and surrender to the Lord. There, in that same bed where he soon passed, Papaw surrendered his life to Jesus.
I’m grateful for the pastor who kept showing up, but I’m even more grateful that God saw fit to draw my papaw to Him (John 6:44). But here’s the reality: We can’t make someone believe the Gospel and respond to the Gospel. But we can keep caring, praying, and pointing them to Jesus by showing up.
Scott reminded us that Jesus told parables in Luke 15 because religious leaders were grumbling that He welcomed sinners. Even though their hearts were hardened, Jesus wanted them to see God’s heart for the lost. After all, He says, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).
It’s been said that identity precedes activity. In other words, knowing we belong to Christ changes who we are and what we do. We begin to care about the people God cares about, the ones who are still lost and desperately need to hear about Jesus. When we pursue our one more, it’s never about trying to earn God’s love. Instead, it’s because we have received His love and want others to know and experience it too.
Papaw’s story has always been a humbling reminder not to assume someone is beyond hope. God may be working in a heart long before we ever see it.
APPLICATION
Go back and listen to Scott’s sermon from earlier this year titled ONE MORE. Ask God to reveal who in your life is close to you but far from Him, then schedule a time to have a meaningful conversation about how they’re doing spiritually.
PRAYER
Father, help me to never take for granted the gift of being Your child. Help me to honor You by loving my “one more” well and by sharing how You have changed my life. Give me courage and strength to trust You as I declare Your name. I pray Your Spirit would go before me and that the one You have placed on my heart would surrender to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.