– Scripture:

               Reaching Out

It’s easy to look at someone like Zacchaeus, a dishonest and despised tax collector, and make judgments, to find fault and condemn, and stay away. But Jesus came down to lift, to heal, to restore every person.

                            Luke 19:9-10 MSG

 – Reflection:

It’s easy to look at someone like Zacchaeus, who could be linked to a person such as a street pharmacist or a dishonest and despised tax collector, and make judgments, to find faults and condemn them, and stay away. But Jesus came down to lift, heal, and restore every person. Yesterday was a holiday that brought everyone together. Think of a person like Zacchaeus. Would he have been welcome at anyone else’s table but those whom he took care of? Jesus says he came to restore every person, even those who are despised. Lift even the worst of us up and help them turn away from what they have become. Show them a better way to be, by being what Christ created you to be now. Be that new thing that inspires.

Where do we go from here?

Since God stooped down for you, why don’t you stoop down for someone else? Why don’t you reach out and love them? There’s enough judgment in our world today. There’s enough criticism and fault-finding. Let’s be lifters. Let’s be encouragers. Let’s help someone else experience the God who stoops. 

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You for freely giving us Your mercy that we might freely give it to others. Thank You that we can stoop to lift the fallen, to restore the broken, and to heal the hurting. Help us be willing to love people who are messy and not turn away from them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.