Devo Week 29

The One Sheep -- Love That Surpasses Knowledge

How does love surpass knowledge? The answer lies within the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus tells of a shepherd who is motivated by love. He leaves the 99 to pursue the one. This kind of love may appear wreckless, as it goes against knowledge, yet such love -- God's love -- should be the motivating factor in our mission to go after the least, the last, and the lost.

Key Concept: Love Surpassing Knowledge in Mission

Humans naturally lean toward success and numbers. In business, the bottom line is achieving success. So, knowledge tends to weigh the pros and cons. It considers what may or may not happen. Then, goals and plans are made accordingly. The nature of God's love, on the other hand, is selfless, passionate and relational, surpassing knowledge in so many ways.

The love of God is selfless in its pursuit of the one sheep. To outsiders or those not receiving God's love, such selfless love may appear wreckless. All Nations Founder Floyd McClung and his family risked their lives moving into the redlight district of Amsterdam, Holland, many years ago. Their family's testimony of living nearly 18 years among drug addicts and prostitutes is recorded in Floyd's book, Living on the Devil's Doorstep. In addition, recently in 2018 All Nations lost one of its sent ones, John Chau, who was shot with arrows while pursuing the North Sentinelese people of South Asia. The love of God is selfless in pursuing the least, the last and the lost.

The love of God is more passionate than strategic. Passionate love is willing to suffer for that which we pursue, regardless of the outcome. It was this holy passion that led to God sending His Son to earth to become one of us and to die for us in order to redeem us. Today this redeeming love, fully expressed in Jesus Christ, still burns in passionate pursuit of both Jews and Gentiles. There is no greater love than this. (John 15:13)

The love of God is relational. Surpassing knowledge, God's love focuses upon people, whom He made in His image. In God's love, people are subjects not objects. His love sees value where knowledge may overlook it. His love restores dignity to the outcast, the forgotten people and nations living in the margins.

Key Word Definition: collective (adjective)

-- denoting a number of persons or things considered as one group or whole
-- marked by similarity among or with the members of a group
-- shared or assumed by all members of the group

Excerpt from Devotional 29 with highlighted word:

"Collectivistic cultures of the East and individualistic cultures of the West both uniquely express the nature of God’s love."

Scripture: Luke 15:4

“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?”