Every Person Matters
By Lance Mosher
Many nations in the world conduct a census every so often to determine the population of that nation. The government does everything it can to make each citizen believe that he or she is valuable. However, when it’s all said and done, only a number will represent those people.
How much do you and I matter among the 7,000,000,000+ people in the world? The truth is, we matter more than we may think. The Bible continually emphasises the value of each person and his or her eternal soul.
Luke 15:4-7: What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety- nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost! ’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety- nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The next time you read through one of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), notice how often Jesus paid attention to individuals while He was on earth. He knows that every soul is priceless.
Mark 8:36-37: For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Your soul is more important than the entire world! Just try to take that in. If you take the time to think about that, I am convinced that idea will leave you awestruck. As incredulous as it might seem, it is the absolute truth. God breathed life into you. He created you in His image. He sent His Son to die for you.
There will be a day when God addresses each soul that has ever lived individually.
2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Souls are priceless and useful to God. When we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into His body, as Paul informs us in 1 Corinthians 12:13. After that, Paul compares members of the body of Christ to members of a physical body. The foot is not a hand. The ear is not an eye. Though we’re not all the same, we’re all just as valuable to God and to each other.
1 Corinthians 12:26-27: And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
You are valuable to God. You are also useful to God. No matter where we are in our lives, each one of us can be an effective member of His body. We must believe that. We must also act on that. We cannot hide in the crowd from God. Imagine if each and every one of us started seeing each person the way God does: invaluable. It won’t be easy, but it must be done for His will to be done. Allow the Lord to be glorified in you each and everyday.
View the Original Article
