Hi and welcome to Van Life Devotions. Today I want to share what our focus is for Season 4. First, a recap. Three years ago, Season One Leisl and I shared a bunch of devotionals, many from various areas that we visited in our caravan. Season Two we shared stories of 40 ordinary Aussies who had extraordinary influence. Season Three were devotions from Turkey, Greece and Egypt.
For Season 4 we feel led to have a more missional, evangelistic focus. We are noticing the increasing secularisation of our country with many being swamped and lost in a world that is anti-God and his teachings. It’s not surprising then that tension, strife, violence, anxiety, hopelessness, pain, confusion, is affecting many in my community and in your community. Jesus, the Son of the Living God is the only answer. The more we observe and read God’s Word, the more we are convicted that Jesus is the answer.
Now, Leisl and I assume that most of the few hundred that watch Van Life Devotions are followers of Jesus. We thank you for your support and comments. It means a lot to us. Having an evangelistic focus throughout Session 4 may not give you the meat that you hunger for. We get it. However, the parable of the lost sheep, coin and son really spoke to us, particularly the lost sheep.
Let me read it to you: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? [5] And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders [6] and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' [7] I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:4-7 NIV).
Leisl and I feel led to go to the lost and share reasons why follow Jesus. We feel confident that the 99 who already follow Jesus have other devotions for encouragement. If this is you, can I encourage you to keep following us and shoot up prayers that these devotions we reach the lost for Jesus.
I’ve never forgotten the story of Pastor Rick Warren’s father. His father was a pastor for over fifty years, serving mostly in small country churches. His favorite activity was taking teams of volunteers overseas to build church buildings for small congregations. In his lifetime, he built over 150 churches around the world.
In the final weeks of his life the cancerous disease kept him awake in a semi-conscious state. As he dreamed, he’d talk out loud about what he was dreaming. Rick used to sit by his bedside listening to his dreams, reliving one church building project after the other.
One night near the end, while Rick and his wife were by his side, Rick’s father suddenly became very active and tried to get out of bed. He was too weak, and Rick and his wife insisted that he lay back down but he persisted. Rick asked “Dad, what are trying to do?” He said, “Got to save one more for Jesus! Got to save one more for Jesus! Got to save one more for Jesus”. He began to repeat that phrase over and over.
As Rick sat by his bed with tears flowing down his cheeks, he bowed his head and thank God for his dad’s faith. At that moment his dad reached out and placed his frail hand on Rick’s head and said to him, “Save one more for Jesus! Save one more for Jesus”.
Season Four of Van Life Devotions is about “one more for Jesus”. So, from next week, please continue to follow us and pray that these devotions will be discovered by the lost. It’s encouraging to know, that Jesus pursues the lost.
Please pray with me.
Dear God. Thank you for sending Jesus into our dark world as Your Light and our Saviour. As the day of His return is drawing near, may you use these devotions to draw people to You.
O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
David Moyes
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