January 8, 2026
By Bishop Ron Bowell, Midwest Conference
Scripture meditation: Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Discipleship element: Embracing Jesus’ life and teachings in daily life, leading to a changed mindset and lifestyle.
When Christians speak of embracing the life and teachings of Jesus in daily life, they often mean becoming imitators of the love, kindness, and compassion that Jesus demonstrated to those he met during his ministry. This is well and good! But I would suggest that another important part of embracing Christ’s life and teachings in daily life would be to embrace his purpose for coming and adopt it as our own. Doing so would obviously change our mindset and lifestyle.
What was Christ’s purpose in coming? Jesus tells us in Luke 19:10, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” If you are a Star Trek fan, this would be called his “Prime Directive.”
In his self-proclaimed purpose statement, Jesus reveals that the salvation of souls is why he came to earth. Embracing his life and teaching should prompt us as followers to make his purpose our purpose. His purpose for coming becomes our purpose for going. His purpose for dying becomes our purpose for living.
Transformed lives are not just for the benefit of those who are being transformed. They are about lighting up a dark world. They are about seeking lost sheep. They are about caring for others enough to risk speaking the truth in love to them as we share the gospel with our lives and our mouths. We are not our own.
Our God is a saving and sending God. In this new year, ask the Lord to use you in seeking and saving the lost. This is one way we can “embrace Jesus’ life and teachings in daily life.” It would also be evidence of a changed mindset and lifestyle that moves us beyond just becoming “better people.”
Someone you know needs you to share the gospel with them. You may be the only one who can deliver the truth and love that they need. You could play a part in them becoming a disciple of Jesus. What an honor! What a privilege! What a calling!
Prayer
Father, I pray I can weave the life and teachings of Jesus into my daily living so my mindset and lifestyle draw others to you. May my words and my life be an asset to you as you move to seek and save the lost. Amen.