To Seek And To Save
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Roots TV Nigeria carried a news item some time back in which seven airport staff were arrested and arraigned by the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
They were arrested for planting hard drugs in the luggage of unsuspecting travelers at the Aminu Kano International airport in Kano. The cartel was discovered during the investigation of a Nigerian Lady, Zainab Habibu Aliu, who was arrested in Saudi Arabia on December 26, 2018 for allegedly flying into the country with tramadol!
Zainab, who arrived for a Lesser Hajj with her mother and sister, had luggage with her name tag containing the unlawful substance. On petition from her father, NDLEA conducted further investigations and discovered the airport cartel that had planted the tramadol bearing luggage on Zainab. She had only one piece of luggage with her, and was not even aware of a second piece in her name!
This is the sad part: the investigation into Zainab’s case led the NDLEA to discover that many Nigerians arrested and executed for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia may be innocent!
This is how wicked human beings have become! Willing to pursue wealth even of it means getting innocent people executed! The sad part is, the executed were not even aware there is an additional luggage in their name! From my experience, you check-in your luggage, and you are left with only your carry-on luggage with which you board; and the airport staff cart your checked-in luggage to the cargo hold of the plane! It means the criminals print extra luggage tags in your name, and attach them to the contraband goods, then add them to the luggage being carted! I can’t imagine how criminal anyone can be!
Were the airport staff that perpetrated these crimes attending church? They probably were! The church admits everyone, even if the ushers know they are criminals! The hope of the church is that, as people continue to come, the word of God would work on them; and transform them. Until that happens, they remain who they were when they first came to church! That is why I always made it a point to advise my Sunday school class to pick their bags whenever they were getting off their seat at church; even if for a brief period to use the washroom! To the glory of God, many have testified to the transformation the church brought into their lives!
The reformatory work of the church can be likened to that of a hospital. You have the staff that helps the patients to get cured; and you have the patients that come in to get cured! When the hospital stops having patients, the hospital closes down! Similarly, the church is there to admit and help sinners to transform! Jesus declared that He came for sinners.
Jesus stated it clearly in the encounter in Luke 19.
READ Luke 19:1-10
Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up [and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
(Luke 19:1-10 NKJV)
Jesus was passing through Jericho, and a rich but short chief tax collector, called Zacchaeus (another form of the name Zechariah, meaning “righteous ” or “pure”) desired to see him; but the crowd was too thick, so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. Jesus got to the tree, looked up and saw him; and inviting him down, decided to be his guest. The people around grumbled because Jesus was going to be the guest of a “sinner” (tax collectors were viewed as cheats and traitors!). But Zacchaeus dramatically declared he was going to give half of his possessions to the poor, and four times what he had taken to all those he had defrauded!
Then Jesus declared,
“Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (vv. 9-10)
Jesus therefore came to seek out and to save the lost! And when He finds them, they are brought to the church; and helped to “transform by the renewing of their mind” (Romans 12:2); with the hope that they will get to a stage where they begin to practice the “Pure and Undefiled Religion” discussed in yesterday’s devotional; even the treacherous airport staff at Aminu Kano airport!
Until then, keep praying, keep believing and keep trusting God!
MEMORY VERSE
“The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
QUESTIONS
1. Have you wondered why there are wicked people in the church?
2. Do you know that the church takes in bad people and tries to transform them?
PRAYER TIP
Almighty Father, please help us to understand the purpose and work of the church; so that we will not lose heart, but rather support it.
Written by:
BENNY MALM
For:
TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL
URGENT CALL
By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!
But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance if you want to make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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