God Wants to Save Everyone
ICS Daily Devotions
Psalms 23:1-2 (NKJV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
In this Psalm, David shares how faithful God’s provision is. He is not left wanting for anything; he has no need. We have the Lord as our shepherd, and He ensures that his sheep are well-fed and rested at green pastures and never thirst because of the still waters.
Matthew 18:12 (NKJV) “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?
If we are Christians, we belong to the ninety-nine sheep. Because they are too self-engrossed with their own needs, the ninety-nine sheep would not be concerned about the lost sheep. However, we must not allow this to be the case with us because the Word and ministry of reconciliation have been given to the church.
The Abrahamic Covenant is the unconditional covenant God intentionally established to bring forth the Messiah so that all the families of the earth will be blessed. God initiated the pursuit of searching for all of us who are lost by ensuring that our relationship with Him can be restored through the blood of Jesus. The gospel is a gospel of grace or an unconditional love to redeem us with Jesus’ blood. We played no part in paying the cost of our salvation because everything was done and paid for by Jesus. All we needed to do was to return to God by calling on Jesus’ name.
God does not want anyone to perish but for all to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ because every person is precious to Him. He, the Good Shepherd, will go to any extent to look for the one lost sheep. Therefore, He will mobilise His church to help look for the lost. God does not just love a selected few who please Him or have favourites. He will search for everyone who has gone astray. That’s why the gospel must be preached to the ends of the world before the end comes because God doesn’t want to leave anyone out of His salvation plan.
Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV) All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Many have strayed from the Creator, doing whatever they like. They are looking for peace, but no religion, philosophy, material goods, worldly achievements, or transcendental meditation can ever replace the emptiness in their hearts. Therefore, let’s share the gospel with our parents, friends, colleagues, and strangers with the same urgency so that none will perish, but all will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Sermon Series: One Soul for Christ
