Into the highways and By-ways

In my personal Bible reading this morning the Lord spoke to me through Matthew 23:37, 38 and Matthew 21:31 and Matthew 22:9 and Luke 14:21-23.

God told me of His heart for sinners of all shapes and sizes and social strata and situations, and He said that I should have the same heart. I heard His voice ask: "Tim do you care about the lost and derelict and wayward and forsaken and outcast and socially misfitted and rejected the way I do?"

I asked him to give me His heart. I said, "Lord help me to love all those that my very proud self-righteous heart might easily disdain and overlook. I don't want to turn away from the people others scorn or despise. I want to see and love the very ones you see and love."

And He said to me, "I will give you such a heart. But Tim, you need to open your eyes and your heart to make room for them today. Your eyes will see them today, but will your eyes see them? Go look for them, and find them. And when you do, lead them home to Me, and I'll be waiting for them with open arms."

"Thank you Lord. By your grace I will seek and find at least one lost sheep to bring home to You today. Thank You for giving me a bit more of Your tender heart. I love You for loving this lost sheep and for bringing me home. Amen."