St. Paul confessed as “the chief” of sinners, “This saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,’ of whom I am the worst” (1 Tim. 1:15). God had mercy on Paul to “display His unlimited patience” (1 Tim. 1:16). Similarly, the LORD “turned from His fierce anger” (Ex. 32:12) against Israel on the basis of Moses’ intercessory prayer.
Our ascended Savior, too, intercedes for us sinners before God the Father. He is our great Good Shepherd who, “having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them,” would “leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the one that is lost until he finds it” (Luke 15:4). When He finds the lost one and brings it home, “the angels of God in heaven” rejoice greatly with Him (Luke 15:7, 10).
Jesus places such high value on every soul. May we be led by His mercy to value souls just as much as we share the soul-saving news of the Jesus’ free forgiveness with all people!