Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment
Today, I feel moved to share with you a message about the essence of our faith, the heart of our Gospel, the core of what it means to be a Christian: the boundless, unconditional love we are called to demonstrate, not just to those comfortable and familiar to us, but more importantly, to the lost, the wounded, and the hurting.
Our guide today is Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God's
love and mercy, who said, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to
save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10). Christ's ministry was not
focused on the religious elite, the rich, or the powerful, but on the lost, the
forgotten, the sinners, the outcasts.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15:1-7 beautifully
illustrates this divine priority. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep to
seek out the one that is lost. And when he finds it, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. This shows God's tremendous
concern for the lost.
So, what does this mean for us? As followers of Christ, we
are called to do likewise, to extend our arms of love towards those who are
lost, those who are hurting, those who are in desperate need of the healing
power of Christ's love.
When we talk about the 'lost,' it does not necessarily mean
non-believers or those who do not belong to our church or any church at all.
The 'lost' could be someone in our very midst – perhaps a member of our
congregation who is suffering silently in pain, a neighbour battling
depression, or a relative facing a crisis. It could even be a stranger we pass
by on the street.
Showing love to the lost involves reaching out, offering
help, lending an ear, giving time, praying, showing kindness, and offering the
hope of the Gospel. It is about meeting people where they are, just as Jesus
did.
Please, do not be daunted by this task. For we are not
expected to do it on our own strength. Remember, we have the Holy Spirit
working within us. As John 14:26 says, "The Helper, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you
of everything I have told you."
We may not be able to change the world overnight, but we can
make a difference one person at a time. And in doing so, we follow in the
footsteps of Christ, who has shown us perfect love and who has called us to
extend that love to others, starting with the lost.
Beloved, let us commit ourselves to this task that God has
put before us. May our hearts be filled with compassion and our actions be
guided by love. And in doing so, may we become the hands and feet of Jesus in
this world, reaching out to the lost, the last, and the least with His
unconditional love.
May God bless you abundantly as you step out in faith to
show love to the lost. And remember, "By this everyone will know that
you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35).