Why Do We It

Thanks to my friend Ron Freeman for sharing the following Journal. Ron currently serves as Pastor of Worship at Lakeview Baptist Church where I am the Intentional Interim Pastor.

Why Do We Do It?

“The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Do you ever search to find what is at the root of why we act the way we do? We all follow traditions and many times have no clue why we do what we do. Some of those traditions may still be needed and some may have been adopted because of a certain need at the time. Why do we just follow blindly and not ask questions?

Over the years I have watched how we in the church have operated. I have watched us become convicted by a need and then out of our concern create a program to meet that need. We become passionate about it for a while then when our interest is sparked by something else we let it die. Why do we do that? The needs most of the time are still there but it is our commitment to them that wanes. We see the need to reach the lost in the community so we decide that we will start a program to reach the lost of the community. It works for a short time then interest dies and the lost of the community remain lost. Oswald Chambers said: “When the Spirit of God comes into a man, He gives him a worldwide outlook.” What I think he is saying is that God gives us something to look at that is bigger than ourselves. We always seem to be the center of the universe.

In this passage where was the focus of need? It was on a tax collector named Zaccheaus that “the people” said was “sinful.” Have you ever noticed that? It was the people present and not God pointing the finger? Who were “the people” that Jesus was drawn to? It was the tax collector, a prostitute, and adulteress, beggars, and lepers. The ones Jesus had the harsh word for were the ones who thought they had it all together and were above need.

Romans 3:23 says; “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” Notice the word “All” We must realize that none of us are better than the one “people” call sinners. If it were not for the grace of God and the forgiveness offered by the shed blood of Jesus there would be no hope for us at all. Let us resist the urge to create programs to put band aids on problems. Let His mission become ours.

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for your grace and forgiveness. Let your seeking and saving of the lost become our desire too. Amen