It is easy for us to have an inward focus in the times we are living in. We’ve been told to stay at home and focus on self-preservation. We spend our time making money or being with our families or living for the weekends. But we can’t get caught up in our personal bubbles to the extent that we can’t relate to the dying world around us.
Human beings are important to God. Genesis 1:27 reads, “God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (NLT).
People are God’s highest creation. He created us in His image. In other words, He looked at Himself, and then He created us. Look at Psalm 8:4–8 in the Passion Translation:
Why would you bother with puny, mortal man or care about human beings? Yet what honor you have given to men, created only a little lower than Elohim, crowned with glory and magnificence. You have delegated to them rulership over all you have made, with everything under their authority, placing earth itself under the feet of your image-bearers. All the created order and every living thing of the earth, sky, and sea—the wildest beasts and all that move in the paths of the sea—everything is in submission to Adam’s sons.
God has created us in His very image and surrounded us with glory and magnificence. He has given us authority over all the work of His hand. Acts 17:28 says that we are His offspring.
I like how Jesus tells us about our importance to God: “You can buy two sparrows for only a copper coin, yet not even one sparrow falls from its nest without the knowledge of your Father. Aren’t you worth much more to God than many sparrows? So don’t worry. For your Father cares deeply about even the smallest detail of your life” (Matt. 10:29–31, TPT).
We all are important to God, because He sent Jesus, His Son, to die on a cross for our sins. His desire is for each person to have a personal relationship with Him.
Because He cares so much for people, God calls believers to focus on the lost. This isn’t a suggestion; it is a command from God. Look at what the Bible says in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark:
Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19, NLT)
As you go into all the world, preach openly the wonderful news of the gospel to the entire human race! (Mark 16:15, TPT)
Let me ask you a question: do you have any friends, relatives, or co-workers who don’t know Jesus? If so, how much time do you spend praying for them?
Luke 15:1 says that dishonest people and notorious sinners often came to hear what Jesus was teaching. He even ate with them. Jesus spoke words to these people that healed broken hearts. He used His words to heal the sick and as a sword to bring deliverance. Jesus said in John 3:17 that God didn’t send Him into the world to judge or condemn it but to be its Savior and rescue it!
We should follow Jesus’ example and begin to see people and speak to them as He did. Paul encouraged us that, when we speak, our words should be gracious and attractive so that we will always have the right answer for everyone we speak to. How do you see and talk to people who don’t look, act, dress, or speak like you?
Say this prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me today how to see people as You see them. Change my attitude and actions concerning the lost. Holy Spirit, guard my tongue when I want to speak words of condemnation and judgment to those around me. I want my words today to be gracious and attractive. I want my words to be only what You would have me say, nothing else. Use my lips to bring healing to the sick and salvation to the lost, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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