Luke 15:7 “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

To a certain degree this makes me feel less guilty for taking things for granted, because it seems like heaven does the same thing! We do get used to how things are, however that happens to be, so it is changes that impact us. It’s not at all that heaven isn’t glad about those who are already saved, but there is special joy when another is added. The major point, however, is that each individual is of great concern and value. We tend to burn out when the numbers get too big, but that never happens with God. We can’t wrap our minds around it when hundreds and thousands of people are persecuted for their faith, for example, but when we know about one woman who refuses to discard her faith even when forced to give birth while chained to a prison floor, we are moved. Jesus was here proclaiming the value of the individual. When we have that understanding, we will be committed to drawing people individually to Christ. Mass evangelism is seldom effective, and when it is effective, most of that is because of personal contacts made by individuals. The vast majority of those who are saved in large meetings came to the meeting because of a personal invitation, and their hearts were open because of having seen someone they knew demonstrate the life of Christ. Individuals are important not only to be saved, but to be involved in the process of others being saved.

This is something I have understood for a long time, but I have had great difficulty getting across to others. People automatically exclude or disqualify themselves when it comes to personal evangelism. They are convinced that God could never use them to save anyone. That’s believing that their weaknesses are more powerful than God! We want evangelism to be easy, for people to pour into the church, but it very seldom happens that way. God uses the process of evangelism not only to draw more people into His family, but also to grow and mature those who are involved in the drawing. I have been impacted, in some way changed for the better, every time I have been involved in someone committing to Jesus as Lord. I need to help the believers understand that God wants to do the same thing in them, and that He’s more than capable of doing so. We want to be “fully prepared” for the task, but I need to help people understand they are never fully prepared but God always is, so our focus needs to be on Him and not on ourselves.

Father, I keep coming back to that last point. I too am entirely too self-centered. Thank You for not giving up on me. Help me love people individually with Your love, not just treating them as an anonymous mass. May I be fully yielded to You so that You may use me without hindrance, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!