When you're looking for "sozo"
I’ve shared before that I try to readthrough the Bible every year-ish. It always takes me longer, so I’ve given upobsessively trying to make it in a calendar year. As I go forward, I may slowit down even more because though I want to get the sweep of the story, I alsowant to carry away something every day. To that end, I aim to try and listen evenmore closely for that one verse each day that God might be using in my life.
On a recent day that verse was Luke 19:10,“For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost.” The first thing that mayspring to mind when we read those words is how Jesus came to save us for alleternity. And oh, how thankful we are. He seeks us out to introduce us toHimself so that we may give our lives to Him.
But there’s more than one way to be lost.
When my dad died ten years ago, for aperiod of time, I felt lost. It was asif an anchor in my life had been ripped away, and I felt adrift. I’ve spokenwith others for whom grief also affected them that way.
Sometimes we feel lost when our sense ofpurpose has dwindled. We’ve lived a certain way for years and then thingschange. Which path to take? What to do?
For these times and so many more, Jesuscame. He seeks us out and as we give ourselves to Him, He saves us in allpossible ways. The transliteration of the Greek word in Luke 19:10 is “sozo.” Through the years, my pastor hubby, Jerry, has taught several times about this powerful word so it is familiar to me. According to one commentator, it is used to describe both physical andspiritual salvation.
Here are some of the shades of meaning:
-To save
-To keep safe and sound
-To rescue from danger
-To make well
-Heal
-Restore to health
-To make one a partaker of the salvationby Christ
God is not interested in only our eternallostness, but he is interested in all the ways we can become lost, because Heloves us. And for that reason, Jesus came to seek us out, to hunt all the backalleys and underground tunnels to find us, and when he does, he desires that webe saved and experience what sozo really means.
If you feel lost rightnow, remember Jesus is looking for you and wants to bring the saving to theuttermost that only He can.
Blessings in this year just begun,friends. Let's let Jesus help us find our "sozo."
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