It Starts Small

⁶ Who is this coming up from the wilderness
like columns of smoke,
scented with myrrh and frankincense
from every fragrant powder of the merchant?

Songs 3:6

The bride gazes in awe as her Beloved approaches—not with silence, but with a magnificent presence that commands attention. He emerges from the wilderness like a grand procession of incense, enveloping the air in a heady cloud of fragrance and enigma. The Groom is boldly visible—He is on a quest, a fragrant and purposeful advance that resonates with the essence of divine love. Christ approaches His bride with unwavering intention and regal majesty. Just like the king in this passage, Jesus never lingers passively; He seeks us fervently, draws near, and brings with Him the heavenly perfume of grace and love. His movement towards us radiates authority, intertwined with deep affection that stirs the soul.

¹⁰ For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:10

This passage in Luke passionately resonates with the divine pursuit. Jesus came to seek and save—not merely to sit enthroned in heaven but to plunge into the wilderness of our brokenness. The King arrives not to conquer with violence but to redeem with boundless love. Theologically, this verse powerfully affirms the incarnation—God stepping into our wilderness with fierce compassion. The bride does not beckon the King to herself; she eagerly watches Him draw near. This is the very essence of grace: God makes the first move, igniting a transformative encounter.

Psychologically, being pursued by love answers one of the deepest longings of the human heart: the fervent desire to be wanted. Many carry the scars of abandonment or rejection, yet the Gospel sings a different anthem: You are not forgotten. You are passionately pursued. Neuroscience echoes this profound truth. When someone feels genuinely desired and cherished, the brain’s attachment system springs to life, cultivating trust and a sense of safety. Christ’s relentless pursuit reshapes our nervous systems – guiding us from fear to tranquility, from the shadows of shame to the radiant embrace of secure love.

You are not an afterthought. You are not a mere face in the crowd. The King is approaching—fragrant, radiant, and utterly unstoppable. His presence draws near with a sense of anticipation and hope, stirring hearts and awakening spirits. And He is coming for you with unfathomable love and purpose, ready to embrace you in a divine relationship that transcends all understanding. This is a moment of destiny, where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary, and you are called to step into the light of His glory and grace!

Journal Prompt:

• Do you live as someone pursued by God?
• How would your relationship with Him change if you fully believe He seeks you every day?

Practical Steps and Application:

1. Reflect on times when God has clearly pursued you – through people, events, or inner promptings.
2. Read Luke 15. Where are you in the story?

Deeper Introspection:

¹⁰ For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:10

Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost,” is Jesus’ mission statement, delivered after his transformative encounter with the tax collector Zacchaeus. The following journal prompts explore this powerful verse with extra-biblical references and real-world examples to encourage deep reflection. 

Prompts on the nature of being “lost”

The concept of being “lost” is a central theme in Jesus’ ministry. It extends beyond simply not being a believer to describe a state of spiritual alienation and brokenness. 

• Reflect on your own “Zacchaeus moment.” Jesus actively sought out the despised chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, climbing a tree to see him. Think of a time when you were in a figurative “tree”—isolated, hiding, or feeling unworthy—and Jesus reached out to you. What did that moment of being “seen” feel like?
• Consider the nature of sin and loss. The Christian counselor Steve Brown uses the analogy of a Michelangelo sculpture: “It lacks only one thing…life.”. In what areas of your life are you functioning perfectly but without spiritual “life”? Journal about your own “dead places” and how they might be revived by Jesus.
• Write about the “lost” in your own life. Jesus’ parables of the lost sheep and lost coin emphasize the great value of each individual soul. Identify someone in your life whom you consider “lost.” What assumptions do you make about their spiritual state? How can you begin to see and value them as Jesus does, rather than judging them? 

Prompts on Jesus’ active pursuit

Unlike the common human expectation that the lost should seek out the divine, Jesus demonstrates that God is the one who actively pursues us.

• Journal about being pursued by God. C.S. Lewis famously described himself as “the most reluctant convert in all of England,” feeling like a mouse being relentlessly pursued by a cat. Reflect on your own experience. Has God’s presence or truth felt like a pursuit in your life? How have you reacted to this divine pressure?
• Ponder the power of an invitation. Jesus didn’t just see Zacchaeus; he personally invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home. Consider a time when a personal invitation radically changed your life for the better. What does Jesus’ invitation to dinner with a “sinner” reveal about his mission?
• Extra-biblical example: The Old Testament story of King David seeking out Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:5) is a foreshadowing of Jesus seeking the lost. Despite Mephibosheth being a cripple and from an enemy lineage, David actively pursues him, finds him, and restores him to his table. Reflect on this example. What does it teach you about God’s relentless and restoring love for the marginalized? 

Prompts on transformation and salvation

The encounter with Jesus is not merely about being found but about being saved, which leads to radical transformation. Zacchaeus’ immediate, tangible repentance serves as the primary example for this. 

• Examine your fruits of repentance. Zacchaeus’s repentance was not just a prayer; it was a public action that included giving half his goods to the poor and repaying those he cheated. What would your “Zacchaeus moment” look like in a practical, day-to-day sense? What tangible actions would demonstrate your transformed life?
• Write about the joy of being found. When Zacchaeus is found and saved, Jesus declares, “Today salvation has come to this house”. The joy is not just Zacchaeus’; the parables in Luke 15 confirm that all of heaven rejoices when one sinner repents. Reflect on the joy you have personally experienced or witnessed from a person who has come to faith.

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