Something Needs to Change by David PlattPrimjer

Day 7: The One

The point of these three parables is clear: God is passionate about the one who’s far from Him. Heaven erupts in praise when one person, cut off from God, is reconciled to Him in love (see v. 10). To be like Jesus is to long for people to know Him.

When you understand how deeply Jesus loves you, you’ll be compelled to do whatever it takes to make Him known in the world. As other people respond to the call to follow Christ, we join the celebration of heaven as men and women from every tribe and nation give their lives to Jesus. This is the goal of the church. These parables make it clear: God desires the one. One sheep, one coin, one son. One matters to Jesus, so we live our lives for the sake of the one.

Our priorities should be God’s priorities. God has a universe to run, galaxies to uphold, governments to rule, and more than seven billion people to sustain, yet He still cares about the one personally and intimately. The gospel requires that we reconsider our priorities and give up good pursuits in order to more fully pursue what makes heaven rejoice. This is the reason we embrace the hardship required to take the gospel to the nations. 

God wants people to know Him, and in His wisdom, He chose us to share that message to the ends of the earth. God could have orchestrated this mission in any manner He chose, yet He loves us enough to invite us into His work. Because God is passionate about the one, let’s live to be passionate about the one.