I spend my life trying to get/help/bring back people to follow Jesus.  I talk a lot to churches and individual Christians about reaching the lost.  

So when we talk about reaching lost people, I think there are three “breeds” of lost sheep we are tasked with reaching for Jesus.

• Those who have never known Jesus.  Maybe they never heard the good news.  Maybe they never believed it.  But either way, they never obeyed Jesus, so we need to be telling the good news of Jesus to people like this.  Sowing Jesus seed in hearts.  Watering that seed.  Asking God to give the increase.

• Those who left Jesus.  There are Christians who leave their faith.  Some renounce it.  Others renounce it with their actions, even if they don’t do it with their words.  They live as if they never knew Jesus.  Some of these have crossed a line where they are not going to come back.  Some have not yet gone that far.  But these are all without Jesus.  Lost again, if you will.  But maybe as we have conversations about Jesus, we will get a chance to invite some to come home.  To leave the far country and come back to Jesus.  Lost, saved, lost again, saved again.

• There are also those who are struggling to stay in the light.  Christians who believe in Jesus but are fighting to stay faithful to their calling.  Maybe it is an addiction that they cannot overcome.  Or consequences from past sins that are making it hard for them to maintain focus on Jesus.  If they’re not careful, they may slide off the edge of the road and into the darkness.  Lost, saved, not yet lost again, but in danger.  We must communicate grace.  We have to walk alongside them.  Speak truth into their life.  Help them to stay in the light.

Reaching the lost takes different forms.  They are all important.  

Our task is to help everyone to come into the light of Jesus.  

And stay there.