#LostLivesMatter (4-28-2016) - MLIBC email update

#LostLivesMatter

Luke 15:1-10

2000 years ago, God gave his only begotten Son to leave Heaven's glory, to become a man, to live among sinful mankind, to give Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for man's sins (taking responsibility for every sin ever committed by every person who ever lived), to die in shame and agony, suffering the eternal judgment of God, and be buried for three days and three nights. Of course, He rose again the third day and now lives forever at the right hand of God.

Why would God the Father do this? Why would God the Son so this? The answer is simple, Lost Lives Matter to God - (see John 3:16, Luke 19;10; Romans 5:6-8)

Consider:

THE VALUE OF A LOST LIFE (SOUL).
(Luke 15:4, 8), "...if he lose one... if she lose one piece..."
It was only ONE sheep that was lost! It was only ONE coin that was missing! Yet, this one lost sheep was a great value to the shepherd, this one lost coin was a great value to the woman. From the president of the USA to the poorest pauper in a back ally of Bangkok, every lost sinner is of emmense value to our lord Jesus!
THE VENTURE OF A LOST LIFE (SOUL).
(Luke 15:4,8)
The shepherd left the safety and security of the fold to find the sheep, the woman drastically altered her schedule and "inconvenienced" herself to find the coin.
Reaching the lost means exerting great effort, inconveniencing ourselves and often requires making great sacrifices. No mission field is ever reached with the Gospel without someone investing great effort, taking significant risks, and making great sacrifices. Lost lives matter and are worth the effort to reach them with the Gospel.
THE VICTORIOUS REJOICING OVER A LOST LIFE.
(Luke 15:7,10, 22-24)
These passages give us a little glimpse into events in Heaven. The salvation of one soul produces great joy in Heaven.
Lost lives matter to God and when they are saved from sin and Hell, there is great rejoicing in Heaven.

We are in the midst of our annual World Wide Faith Promise Missions Conference and our hearts are stirred anew concerning the urgency of getting the Gospel into all the world. Dr. Pat Creed brought a great message last evening on our stewardship as Christians. The Hall family to Kenya, the Depew family to China and the Yoder family to Central Asia are all a blessing and challenge to our church family. We thank God for their obedience and faithfulness to God's call to the mission field.

Sunday we're taking up our Faith Promise Commitments for the next 12 months and we are trusting the Lord to lead us and use us to get more missionaries to the mission field.

Our Mother/Daughter banquet is next Friday (May 6) here in our Fellowship Hall, and we're having a special Mother's Day Service on Sunday, May 8. Some of our men are serving a delicious Mother's Day breakfast that Sunday morning before the Sunday School hour. All ladies are invited to join us.

Bring your Bible and a friend to church this Sunday. God bless.