Countless paintings show Jesus holding a lamb in His arms. Other paintings show Him approaching an individual sheep that He, the Good Shepherd, sought out after it became separated from the flock. This latter image comes from the parable Jesus told about a man who owned 100 sheep but discovered one was missing. He left the 99 and searched until he found the lost sheep (Matthew 18:12-14). In His words to Zacchaeus, the tax collector, Jesus summarized His mission: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

The premise behind seeking is an acknowledgement that something is lost. In Romans 3:10-18, Paul cites a litany of Old Testament verses showing that man is lost and in need of being found. The problem is that man is not inclined to seek after God: “There is none who seeks after God” (verse 11). And no one can be found who does not first acknowledge he is lost.

The first step in being saved is admitting one is lost—separated from God. The good news is that Jesus came to seek and save all who need to be found.

Thou didst seek us when we sought Thee not.
Augustine