"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10 ESV
When Jesus said these words, He was wrapping up His encounter with Zacchaeus, a tax collector despised by many. People saw Zacchaeus’ failures. Jesus saw his future.
This verse gets right to the heart of the Gospel. Jesus didn’t come for the perfect or the polished—He came for the broken, the overlooked, and the lost. That includes you, me, and every person who thinks they’ve gone too far to be found.
Notice the two verbs: seek and save.
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Seek means Jesus is intentional. He’s not waiting for us to clean up and come to Him—He comes looking for us.
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Save means He doesn’t just find us; He rescues us. Salvation isn’t about self-improvement, it’s about surrendering to the One who redeems.
For athletes, students, and leaders alike, this truth resets our focus. We often measure ourselves by wins, performance, or how others see us. But God’s measure isn’t based on stats or success—it’s based on His relentless pursuit of our hearts.
What does this mean for us?
If Christ’s mission was to seek and save, then ours is to reflect that mission. We are called to live with open eyes and open hearts, ready to meet people where they are, not where we wish they’d be. Just as Jesus stepped into Zacchaeus’ story, He invites us to step into others’ lives with love, grace, and truth.
So this week, remember: You are not forgotten. You are sought. You are saved. Now go and live with that same mission in mind.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to seek and to save the lost—including me. Remind me that my worth isn’t found in performance or perfection but in Your pursuit of my heart. Help me to reflect Christ’s mission this week by showing love, grace, and truth to those around me. Use me as a vessel to point others back to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
