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The M&M
Connection
“What was Lost?”
“For the son of man came to seek and save what was lost.”
Luke 19:10
Ed Silvoso, the founder and president of Harvest
Evangelism, was praying over this verse when he had a new revelation.
This will set you free in ways you can’t even imagine. When you read the
above verse and ask people who did Jesus come to seek and save, they
almost always say, “The lost.” While true, it is only part of the
story.
Jesus came to restore and redeem a number of things that
were lost in the Garden of Eden when man fell from grace.
First, Jesus did come to restore our personal relationship
with Him. There is no other way we could ever go to heaven to be with
Him. I certainly believe this was His first priority in dying for our
sins, but there was much more that was lost in the garden.
Second, He came to restore marriages and relationships we
have with one another. Adam and Eve’s marriage was broken after the fall
and it needed restored. Up until the fall all was well with Adam and
Eve. God had fellowship with them on a regular basis and they loved it.
Cain killed Abel and relationships between siblings and
friends needed restored. Have you ever noticed how sibling rivalries can
turn bad? It’s a result of the fall. Jesus came to restore these
relationships too. But there was one more relationship that needed
restored.
Third, the marketplace needed restored as well. The
marketplace was represented by the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve
were working the garden it was a representation of how we would do our
work as well. We were always meant to work with God in our jobs in the
marketplace, just like Adam and Eve did. It was a partnership between
the creator and the created. It was perfect, however the fall ruined the
relationship. When the fall occurred God told Adam he would work hard
now and sweat would pour off his head. One reason was because man would
now find thorns mixed in with the vegetables. On top of that the fruit
would not be as good.
Ed tells us that when Jesus was being readied for
Crucifixion he had a crown of thorns placed on his head and His blood
touched the thorns and the marketplace was being restored at that
moment. Jesus redemptive blood always redeems and restores and it did so
here. Jesus touched the marketplace and we need to minister in it to
bring complete restoration to our cities and nations.
We can restore that working relationship with God by
inviting Him into our work and seeking His face on how to do our work.
We need to pray for His guidance, pray for our company, bosses and
fellow employees and bless them. We need to fellowship with them and
become their friends. We represent Christ in the marketplace and we have
to act like we do.
So, remember that God is interested in at least
three things in your life: Your salvation, your marriage and your work.
It’s important to Him. He sent His son to die for all of it. Now, are
you ready to sacrifice yourself for what He died for?
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Jack
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