Even One

Reference: Luke 15:10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.

Observation: We claim to believe in the "infinite value of a single soul" but, too often, we are not so happy when "just one" sinner comes to Jesus. We live and die by the numbers. We get excited about big ones and disappointed about small ones.

God sees it differently. A single soul is worth heaven rejoicing because God made each soul in His image, a everlasting being, and their eternal destiny is a momentous issue worthy of our concern and rejoicing.

Application/Confession: We just had Easter. I am glad that several people received Jesus as their savior. I worked and prayed, as did many others, for this to happen. On the other hand, I have yet to fully engage God’s perspective. I count souls instead of infinitely valuing each one. I am let down when not enough, by my estimation, get saved. I’m afraid that my own sense of value and worth is, too much, tied into that number.

PRAYER: Show me the value, Lord, of each soul. Teach me to gladly lay down my life for even one. Cure me of my soul’s habit of getting my value by anything I try to produce--including salvations (as if I can produce even one anyway; its all your work, not mine).