I Desire to Seek and Save
When we look at the disciples, Peter is an easy target. He stuck his foot in his mouth so many times. John, though, is called the apostle of love, the one whom Jesus loved. Let’s look at a few places where even John struggled, and Jesus had to correct him.
“As they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for him [Jesus]. But they did not receive him, because his face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’” (Luke 9:52-54, NKJV). This is the apostle of love, folks.
Listen to Jesus’s response. “But he turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’” (Luke 9:55-56, NKJV).
You know, as a missionary and pastor, I have often prayed, “God, bring the gang member and drug addict to me so I can share the gospel with them. Let the broken, the abused, the prostitute, the physically and mentally sick see your glory and love.” I long with everything in my heart to see people saved when they witness God’s goodness.
Well, about a year ago, I saw this television show where a transgender person broke a women’s bench press record. I played football for a lot of years, so I really struggle with anger when I think about a transgender person who was a man going into women’s sport. I was getting so upset, and then this person started to brag about how much stronger he was at bench pressing than all the women. I burst out, “What an idiot!”
In that moment, the Lord reminded me, “I love transgender people.”
We live in a world so full of hate. We may look at certain people and say, “Rain fire on their heads!” However, we don’t know what spirit we are of when we say things like that. The church has got to rise above this and love people because God wants his love to reach every man and woman of your community. Even people who reject Christ and do not honor God with their lives are made in his image, and he urgently desires to save them. Is that our heart too?
John Bailey is the Vice President of World Challenge Inc. and the Founding Pastor of The Springs Church in Jacksonville, Florida. John has been serving the Lord in pastoral ministry for 35 years, ministering the gospel in over 50 nations, particularly as a pastor and evangelist in Cork, Ireland.
