"Befriending the Lost"

I had the opportunity to speak at a women's retreat this past weekend near Nashville on the subject of befriending the lost. I did two sessions on the subject and was overwhelmed with the favorable responses I received. It was very exciting to see so many interested in reaching out to others and choosing to attend the class, but even more so, it was exciting to here the comments and have so many share their experiences with me.

The New Testament tells us and makes it abundantly clear that Jesus' sole purpose for coming to this earth was to seek and save those who were lost. If we are to be disciples, truly followers of Him, then we too must be about the business of seeking and saving the lost and that must start with befriending them.

If a friend knows that we love them, then we can tell them most anything, even that they are lost and headed to an eternal hell. They may not like "what" we say, but they know we love them and hopefully will listen.

I think we often forget this simple truth. We somehow think that we can go out and start "preaching" to everyone that they are headed straight to hell without Jesus when we have made no effort to become their friend, no effort to show them we personally care about their souls and then we are shocked when they reject "the truth". Jesus went to great pains to befriend people. He showed them over and over that He loved them and that He cared about them personally. Think about the Samaritan woman at the well, the sinful woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears, the woman caught in the act of adultery and even Zacchaeus. They each knew that He cared personally about them and then He made it clear they needed repentance.

We must be like Jesus, love people, let them know we love them (befreind them), then seek out those who want to be saved. May God richly bless your efforts as you seek to save the lost.

Dana Burk