by Rebekah Harvey

Jesus sees people differently than we do; He looks at each of us with value. He spent time with all sorts of different people, the religious, the sick, demon possessed, adulterous, jealous, judgmental and so many others. He loved and valued each of them. Just as He loves and values you and I.

People expected Jesus to react and interact in a certain way, Luke 15:1 “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” I think these religious people expected Jesus to act in judgment and condemnation because that is how they would have reacted.

Fortunately, Jesus did not react how religion prescribed for Him. He responded in Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

Jesus has come after us the “lost sheep”, to rescue us and redeem us with salvation from hell and torment, and provide relationship with Him. His desire is to have communication, and relationship with His creation, humankind. When one of us turns to Him there is joy in heaven, do you realize heaven is so excited over someone turning to the Lord that it rejoices? Luke 15:10 “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

Jesus wants to restore relationship with Him, we must repent and turn to Him and believe. My sin, your sin and those we think are too far gone with their sin are not out of the reach of the love of God and His powerful restoration. We have an incredible message of love and hope to share, who will you tell it to today?