Who don’t you like? Who do you despise, who do you not want, who do you “kick to the curb” or “throw under the bus”? They look and sound different from you: a different color, size, accent, or sex. They speak a different language from you. They believe something different than you, they vote differently than you. And you avoid and ignore them. You hate them. But how does God see this person?
There were unwanted people in the days of Jesus. They were tax collectors and sinners: the liars, cheaters, swindlers, prostitutes, and adulterers. They were foreigners and countrymen who sold out their families to support the foreign government. They were rejected by the religious people, who looked down on them and said, “Ugh! Go away!” And these people were all drawing near to hear Jesus, and Jesus received them and ate with them, but the religious people grumbled. How do you respond?
God will not stop at welcoming these unwanted people and spending time with them. He even looks for them. God will go and seek one of them out who is lost, like a good shepherd who leaves his ninety-nine sheep to go after His one lost sheep, until He finds it. And He rejoices when He finds it. Or He is like the woman who had ten silver coins, and if she loses one, she lights a lamp and sweeps the house and seeks diligently until she finds it. God is very determined to find that lost coin, no matter the cost, and will “turn up the furniture” in order to have it. Or He is like the father who stands far off from His son and waits for him to return, and when He sees him He felt compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him. He puts His best robe on him, a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and has a feast to celebrate. In all three instances, there is much rejoicing. God loves these ugly and “worthless” sheep, coins, and sons. Do you?
But the hidden truth is: you are that ugly and worthless sheep, or coin, or son. You are the sinner who has lied, cheated, stolen, lusted, or committed adultery. Never mind grumbling about what those other people are doing; where do you stand with the Lord today? God has outrageous, radical love for you. He sent His son Jesus to die for you, to pay for your sins and save you, because you couldn’t save yourself. You are the sheep, the lost coin, the prodigal son, and God is the shepherd, the woman, the father who welcomes you and receives you and eats with you. Repent of your sin and trust Him today. Get found in Jesus today.