The Only Distinction That Matters
By Rick Warren

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 (NLT)

In God’s eyes, there are only two kinds of people—saved people and lost people. Every one of us falls into one of these two categories. And, ultimately, no other human distinction matters. 

God loves all people—regardless of gender, race, or culture. And he doesn’t distinguish people by their education, looks, wealth, or talent. What matters most to him is whether people are spiritually saved or lost. 

“Saved” and “lost” imply value. The two words mean that God sees you as being worthy of seeking, saving, and finding; “saved” and “lost” are expressions of his love.

The Bible says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10 NLT). That’s how valuable you are. Jesus Christ came to earth to seek you and to save you. 

Only valuable things get lost; invaluable things just get misplaced. In other words, nobody loses a toothpick. You may misplace a toothpick, but you don’t lose it—because it’s not that valuable. 

If I lost my wedding ring, it would be a real loss because it represents over 40 years of commitment to my wife. Not only that, but Kay gave it to me, and I love her. I would never misplace my wedding ring; I would lose it.

So, when we talk about whether a person is spiritually saved or lost, we’re not talking about that person’s value. Whether someone is saved or lost, they’re incredibly valuable.

But God doesn’t want anyone to be spiritually lost. Why? Because it means they are disconnected from him and don’t have a relationship with him.

Over the next three days, we’re going to look at the question, “What do you actually lose when you’re spiritually lost?” The answers to this question will help you understand how much you matter to God and help you share this encouraging news with others. 

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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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