Day 25: Intentionally Seeking the Lost
Intention
To challenge us to be proactive in deliberately seeking out the lost rather than waiting for them to find us, following the example of Jesus seeking out Zacchaeus.
Scripture
“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed him gladly.
The crowd muttered in disapproval: ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’
But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody, I will pay back four times the amount.’
Jesus replied, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”
– Luke 19:5–10
Reflection
On his way to the cross, Jesus passes through Jericho and chooses to eat in the home of Zacchaeus — a wealthy, despised tax collector — rather than in the homes of ‘respectable’ leaders. By inviting himself to dinner at Zacchaeus’ home, Jesus brings the kingdom of God into the centre of everyday life, specifically into the home of a social and religious outcast.
Luke 19:5–10 offers us three valuable insights into how we should approach seeing others and seeking to share the gospel with them.
Grace accompanies change. We don’t know exactly what was said at dinner, but Jesus’ acceptance of Zacchaeus as a “son of Abraham” surely fuelled his radical repentance.
Zacchaeus’ transformation was dramatic and his commitment to generosity was extraordinary — “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Overcoming the muttering. The crowd, critical of Jesus, saw a lost cause — they “muttered in disapproval”. But Jesus saw Zacchaeus very differently — as a transformation in progress. Remaining prayerful as we go about our lives will help us to see those whom God is already drawing to himself.
Intentional seeking. Many of us wait to be asked about our faith. But Jesus’ example in Luke 19 challenges us to be proactive — to deliberately seek out the lost rather than waiting for them to find us. Luke leaves us with these words of Jesus as our model: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
To discover where God is working in a friend’s life, try allowing conversations to flow naturally from casual to meaningful, and then to the spiritual. A simple question like, “Has God ever felt real to you?”, can open the door to hearing their story, and then to sharing how Jesus has impacted yours. This in turn can lead to sharing the gospel and to discipleship.
Zacchaeus’ transformation didn’t just save him as a son of Abraham — it resulted in an economic blessing for his entire community. When we follow Jesus into the homes and lives of the “lost”, we have the privilege of partnering with God in redemption and transformation.
As seen with Zacchaeus, the results can be astonishing.
Video
Prayer
Lord Jesus, show me today someone I can connect with who is far from you. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see what you are already doing in their life. Help me to share something of your love and truth, and may we both take a step closer to you today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Author Bio
Based in Wollongong, David serves as the chairman of MOVE Mission Inc., an organisation dedicated to fostering disciple-making movements through prayer, evangelism, training, and coaching. His recent work focuses on two key areas: campus ministry (sharing the gospel and making disciples within the university environment) and strategic partnerships (equipping teams to multiply disciples within Australia’s diverse denominational and cultural landscapes).
Prayer Points for Five4Five 2026
1. Five people to trust in Christ and to share the gospel with those five in May. Matthew 28:19–20
2. Repentance, revival and reformation in Australia and for millions to believe in Jesus Christ. Luke 24:47
3. A Church that grows in extravagant love for God and people. 2 Corinthians 5:14–15
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