About seven years ago our home was broken into. You, I, and most thieves know that somewhere in our homes there is a drawer, usually in our master bedrooms (now the secret is out), where we keep our treasures. The thieves found that drawer and made off with many of my personal items. Old coins I’d had since I was a kid, class rings, that kind of thing. For the record, I’ve found better places to keep my treasures.
Any respect that I might have had for the cunning of the thieves was tainted by the fact that they left one of my most valuable and prized possessions in plain sight. It was right there in the drawer with the other things of much lesser value that were taken. It must have been either a miracle of God in blinding the sight of the thieves or they were ignorant of the value of the item.
It was in a baby food jar so I know they could clearly see through the jar. Inside the jar was a “squishy ball” and 47 cents. The “squishy ball” is indescribable. It is blue and covered with tentacle like projections. I don’t really know what you do with a “squishy ball” except hold it in your hand and, well…squish it.
You see, one Father’s Day when Ashley was about 6 years old she took a baby food jar put the squishy ball that she got at the concession stand at the children’s camp that we used to lead every summer, put all of her money in the jar (the 47 cents), and wrapped it with newspaper and gave it to me because she loved me. It was a gift of great sacrifice because she has always been very fond of money in any form. Fourteen years later I still have that gift exactly as it was given.
Ignorant thieves. They missed the most valuable thing in that drawer.
What gave this treasure its value? It was the heart of a father for the giver of the gift. The treasure had its value because of what it was worth to the one who gave me the gift. Because it was special and important to my dearly loved 6 year old it was special and important to me.
As our church focuses upon this season of considering the “lost” (Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost) we must understand that the value of each person is wrapped up in how much that person means to our Heavenly Father who first loved us and gave his only Son that everyone of us might be found. That’s why every person has such immense value.
Why do we have a heart to see people found by Christ? It is because the heart of the Father goes out to them. Since we love God we value what he values the most—lost people being found.
As we are impacted by the heart of God toward the lost here are a few points of encouragement to consider.
Don’t be afraid – God’s Spirit will “coach” us in what to say when God gives us divine encounters with people who need a relationship with Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:16-17)
Be motivated by God’s love – The Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) will give us a deep desire to connect with the world around us. Because God loves them his love will “rub off” on us and we will find ourselves really, really caring about people.
Just say what’s on your heart – When engaged in a divine encounter with someone God is drawing just say what’s on your heart. (Mark 13:11) (definition: A divine encounter is a meeting that looks like a chance meeting but it was really orchestrated by God for a purpose.)
Follow God’s lead – God’s Spirit will give us impulses that will be right on if we follow them. (Acts 8, The story of Philip)
As you consider God’s call to you to reach out and connect with those who have not yet been impacted by God’s love pray through and think through these points and allow the Spirit of God to lead you in reaching out to that which is most important to the heart of God—people who need an encounter with Christ.
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