Our Attitude: To The Lost
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 9:36
For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:11-14
Jesus, when He saw the lost - those scattered without a shepherd - had compassion on them. Christ came to save the lost, seeking the sheep who have gone astray to bring them back. The Christian should have the same attitude as Christ towards the lost, since we are to be imitators of Him (Ephesians 5:1). We should be searching for the lost (and we don’t have to go far) and showing them compassion.
There should also be joy in the Christian when a lost sinner is found and enters into God’s family. Our love and kindness should shine forth and make the lost feel welcome - let them realize the goodness that is found in Christ’s church.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
We should be patient towards the lost, as our Father is. We won’t always see success in our teachings and invitations, but we should not be slack. We should be patient and push on, enduring with the determination to not have any perish.
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2 Corinthians 5:18
We have be reconciled through Christ and have received the ministry of reconciliation. Let us be willing to share the teaching of Christ with the lost.
-- John Thrower Jr.