Beasts loom in the forest as the shadows fall. Nightsky ignites the evening fire where the knight rider counts his sheep one by one in the meadows. Yahweh speaks to Him… one has gone astray. His eyes rotate. He scans the sheep. His instincts stir. Saddles his horse. Pursues the one into the forest dense with murky shadows, wailing rattle snakes, and darkened ivy.

Charge ahead, rider! Speed ahead, knight! Dart into the forests where the beasts are lurking savagely for something to devour. He does not hesitate in the moment of the rescue. He can handle it. He’s not scared of it. He runs into it. Barrels past the threats of the unknown behind the trees’ perimeter knowing He’ll save what He came for.

Warriors find the one they lost.

Jesus commands His warriors to go after the lost one. The broken one. The doubting one. The fearful one. The ashamed one. The guilty one. The lonely one.

War how Jesus wars. Fight for your people.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” Luke 15:4

Jesus says… you know how to search. You’ve been trained for it. Ready for it. Built for it. Use your skills. Slay the darkness that woos your sheep away from the flock. Save your sheep no matter how far they got away.

“And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” Luke 15:5

I can see the Lord’s laughter reveling in the joy of His rescued sheep. He delights in His sheep. Just like he delights in you and me. Jesus is speaking in allegorical terms here to show the disciples a real-life example of how we rescue what is important to us, so He can tell us how we ought to care for one another. Fight for another. Protect one another. Go after one another when someone has strayed or gotten away. We carry a responsibility to look out for one another.

Jesus continues in this parable to talk about the joy that follows the rescue mission.

“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’” Luke 15:6

God rejoices when He finds you.

God rejoices when He saves you.

He dusts you off, picks you up, and holds you on His shoulders so you are on top of the world. Nothing overcomes you. You are held free and liberated in His love.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Rejoice with me the rescuer says! God wants you to rejoice with Him when He rescues someone! When He saves someone! When He overcomes for someone!

Delight in other people’s healing, not their demise. If you want someone to fall, that is opposite of Jesus’ heart and is called demonic. Repent and be saved by Jesus who makes you a rescuer, not a killer.

God rescues His people. Who rescues His people? God rescues His people.

“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7

God is throwing a party right now. I can feel it in the Spirit. Someone is coming home. Someone is found by God. Someone realizes they are loved. Someone finally sees they were chosen all along. God came and found them to bring them home. Heaven rejoices over this rescue mission! The one that needed rescue is worth God’s attention! He celebrates this victory! Celebrate with the Lord when He saves someone. It is no small thing. IT IS A GIGANTIC VICTORY!

Jesus pursues lost souls.

Prioritize seeking and saving the lost. Speak the gospel with boldness. See people set free from bondage and liberated in relationship with Jesus, the Savior of their soul.

You are a warrior for the Kingdom.

warrior

go and war

for hearts entangled

by the dark

for souls enraged

by violent mobs

you are the speaker

of God’s heart

go save them now

go save them now

Jesus saves the ones who cannot save themselves. As a leader for Jesus, you must save the ones who can’t help themselves. Who can’t see themselves the way God sees them yet. Remind them who they are. What they are worth. How they were birthed for higher destinies than what life has told them. Jesus has a perfect plan for them and eternal life awaiting. Don’t forget the gospel of Jesus is for all people. Follow Him into the ends of the earth.

Choosing to follow Jesus makes you a rescuer. He trains you for battle. Go minister to the ones He loves.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20