Several years ago, Dr. Charley Holmes preached a sermon titled, “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?” at a church where I served on staff. As Dr. Holmes made application of the sermon, he challenged listeners to ask God to put one lost person on each of their hearts and commit to praying for them for a year. Of course, the ultimate goal was for the listener not only to pray for that person, but to share Christ with him or her during the next year.
Similarly, the North American Mission Board has developed an evangelist emphasis called, “Who’s Your One?” The goal is to identify one person who is far from God and to be His instrument in seeing them come to relationship with Jesus.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus clearly stated that His mission was “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 HCSB).He fulfilled that mission by speaking to crowds. But just as importantly, He fulfilled that mission through individual conversations.
Zacchaeus was an example of Jesus on mission. Zacchaeus was a man far from God (Luke 19:1-2). He was a tax collector. That implies he was corrupt, greedy and an outcast of society. Yet, Zacchaeus had a hunger for hope (Luke 19:3-4). He wanted to see Jesus and creatively positioned himself to do so. As Jesus passed that sycamore tree, He told Zacchaeus to come down. (I know you’re singing that kid’s song in your head right now.) Why? Jesus said, “today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5). Did you feel the urgency of that statement? Did you sense the opportunity for mission? Did you get the hint of a divine appointment? That day, Zacchaeus was the one with whom Jesus felt compelled to have a life-changing conversation.
Here’s your challenge — adopt Jesus’ mission as yours. Ask the Father to place one person on your heart, who is far from Him, for the purpose of you being His instrument in moving that person to relationship with Jesus. Just one person? Yes, start with one.
What if, during 2021, you prayed for your one, built a relationship with your one, served your one and shared your story of redemption with your one? Could that spiritual investment make a difference in the life of your one? Yes!
Just as Dr. Charley Holmes challenged me several years ago, won’t you ask God to put one person (who is far from God) on your heart and commit to praying for them? It starts with identifying your one. Who’s your one?
