YOU ARE SPECIAL TO GOD
by Erwin Bourne
Why did Jesus give us the story of the lost sheep?
Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came
to listen to Jesus’ teachings. This made the
religious segments of the Jews complain that Jesus was
associating with such despicable people. He even ate
with them. Jesus told the story of the lost sheep to
illustrate that one lost soul was special to Him.
“…Heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who
returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are
righteous and haven’t strayed away” (Luke 15:7 NLT).
We don’t know whether the criminal who hung on one of
the three crosses ever met Christ during their years
on earth together, but it was God’s mercy that they
met on “the place of a skull.” The thief on the cross
dying on one side of our Savior on Mount Calvary was
very special to God. So was the other who said, “So
you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving
yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” Confession
of sins and acceptance of the Savior made all the
difference. The one said to his companion in crime ,
“Don’t you fear God even when you are dying? We
deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t
done anything wrong” (Luke 23:40 NLT).
My brother, Vern Bourne, who is the founder of this
ministry, “SomebodyCares4u,” was one of the “lost
sheep” that Christ, the good Shepherd, searched for in
the mountains during the darkest of nights. When Vern
got saved and returned to Christ, the Shepherd called
many friends and neighbors together to rejoice. You
and I can rejoice because he was found. God is using
Vern & Miko's Web Ministry to search around the world
for lost souls. You are all very special to God. He
wants to transform your lives.
In Australia there is a beach where at certain times
each year thousands of starfish are washed up on the
sand. Usually at night at high tide, a large wave
will bring them in so far that the water won’t carry
them back out. Then as the sun shines on the
starfish, they slowly dry out and die.
One morning a tourist came out of his hotel for a jog
at dawn. Down on the beach he noticed a little boy
picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back
into the sea. But there were thousands of them up and
down the shore. The man ran up to the boy and said,
“I know what you are doing. But there are thousands
of starfish here and miles of beach. Do you really
think that what you are doing is going to make a
difference?”
The boy said, “I don’t know. But I think it will make
a difference to this one.” And he picked up anther
starfish and threw it into the sea.
—from
WHOSE CHILD IS THIS by Bill Wilson
Remember,
You Are Special, by Erwin Bourne
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