The Only Distinction That Matters

[The Only Distinction That Matters]( Current Teaching Series [The Miracle of Mercy]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [The Only Distinction That Matters]( By Rick Warren — 03/29/2022 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email]( “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 (NLT) In God’s eyes, there are only two kinds of people—saved people and lost people. Every one of us falls into one of these two categories. And, ultimately, no other human distinction matters. God loves all people—regardless of gender, race, or culture. And he doesn’t distinguish people by their education, looks, wealth, or talent. What matters most to him is whether people are spiritually saved or lost. “Saved” and “lost” imply value. The two words mean that God sees you as being worthy of seeking, saving, and finding; “saved” and “lost” are expressions of his love. The Bible says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10 NLT). That’s how valuable you are. Jesus Christ came to earth to seek you and to save you. Only valuable things get lost; invaluable things just get misplaced. In other words, nobody loses a toothpick. You may misplace a toothpick, but you don’t lose it—because it’s not that valuable. If I lost my wedding ring, it would be a real loss because it represents over 40 years of commitment to my wife. Not only that, but Kay gave it to me, and I love her. I would never misplace my wedding ring; I would lose it. So, when we talk about whether a person is spiritually saved or lost, we’re not talking about that person’s value. Whether someone is saved or lost, they’re incredibly valuable. But God doesn’t want anyone to be spiritually lost. Why? Because it means they are disconnected from him and don’t have a relationship with him. Over the next three days, we’re going to look at the question, “What do you actually lose when you’re spiritually lost?” The answers to this question will help you understand how much you matter to God and help you share this encouraging news with others. [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - Have you—perhaps unconsciously—thought of people who are lost as having different value from those who are saved? How does it feel to know all people are of equal value to God? - What’s an example of something you have lost? What’s something you have misplaced? What was the value of each of those things to you? - Who in your life needs to hear how valuable they are to God? How can you take time to encourage them by telling them that today? There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus The Bible says in John 3:18, “Those who believe in the Son are not judged” (GNT). Romans 8:1 says it like this: “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus”(NLT). If you’re ready to accept that promise, stop fearing God’s judgment, and commit your life to Jesus, then pray this prayer: “Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, and I will learn the purpose of my life. Instead of judging me, you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day. “I confess my sin, and I believe that you are God, my Savior. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Thank you that I don’t have to earn salvation, deserve it, or work for it. It is your gift of grace. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to you. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I humbly commit my life to you, and I ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.comand let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus. The post [The Only Distinction That Matters]( appeared first on [Pastor Rick's Daily Hope](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email]( [Get the Journey with Jesus Deluxe Gift Book when you give a gift to support Daily Hope!]( Easter is just around the corner, and we want to help you experience the passion of Christ in an even more powerful way this year. Pastor Rick created a beautifully illustrated book called Journey with Jesus that includes stunning photographs and colored mosaics depicting the sacrificial journey Jesus made to save us. Join Pastor Rick as he traces Jesus’s journey through Jerusalem to Calvary—the most passionate and powerful path our Lord walked while here on Earth. You’ll uncover deep biblical and historical insights into the most important event in human history. And you’ll experience the joy and peace that only comes from a deep understanding of the love Jesus showed for you on the cross. [LEARN MORE]( [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)]( Includes 5 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series The Miracle of Mercy. [LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: God Can Use Anybody Message 2: God's Mercy and My Failures Message 3: How Much You Matter to God Message 4: Showing Mercy to Your Family Message 5: Being an Agent of Mercy in the World [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST]( Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Linkedin]( Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com]( Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.]( As the founding pastor of Saddleback Church with his wife Kay, Dr. Rick Warren leads a 30,000-member congregation in California with campuses in major cities around the world. As an author, his book [The Purpose Driven Life]( is one of the best-selling nonfiction books in publishing history. It has been translated into 74 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. His book [The Purpose Driven Church]( was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the century. Rick also founded [The PEACE Plan]( to address five global issues—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. You can listen to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope, his daily 25-minute audio teaching, and sign up for his free daily devotionals at [PastorRick.com](. © 2022 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, 23182 Arroyo Vista, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, United States