You Are Important to God

You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.

Psalm 139: 3-4 LSAB

Sometimes we don’t let people get to know us completely
because we are afraid they will discover something about us they won’t like.
God already knows everything about us, even to the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10: 30),
and still he accepts and loves us.

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. ‘Zacchaeus!’ he said, ‘Quick, come down, I must be a guest in your home today.’ Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy; but the people were displeased. ‘He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,’ they grumbled.

Luke 19: 5–7 NLT

This is the only account we have of Jesus inviting himself to someone’s home.

I think everyone loves to be called by name. I certainly do. It is particularly special if you didn’t realise that the person speaking to you knew your name. Clearly Zacchaeus was not only surprised that Jesus knew his name but thrilled when he offered to visit his house. This changed everything for Zacchaeus who realised that he had to turn his life around. The fact that Jesus came into the world to save sinners is amazing and wonderful, but it means little until you realise that he is addressing you personally. You matter to God incredibly. If you had been the only sinner who had ever lived, Jesus would have died for you. As a teenager I really struggled to believe that I could be that important to God. It seemed so unlikely; but that is precisely the truth that Jesus came to proclaim to the world. That is the Good News, and when you accept it for yourself it cannot fail to turn your life upside down.   The crowd didn’t approve of Jesus’ choice. They couldn’t believe that he would go to the home of a notorious sinner. They had assumed that Jesus would choose people who they considered to be respectable, not somebody who represented everything that was most appalling and distasteful about their society. The Good News of Jesus knows no limits. He still comes to sinners of all kinds and personally welcomes them to receive the gift of salvation.

Premier ‘Voice of Hope’

Reflection:

• Despite the fact that Zacchaeus was a cheater and a turncoat;
  Jesus loved him, and in response the little tax collector was converted.
  In every society certain groups of people are considered ‘untouchables’
  because of their political views, their immoral behaviour, or their lifestyle.
  We should not give in to social pressure to avoid these people.
  Jesus loves them and they need to hear his Good News.
• ‘I will give back four times as much.’
  Zacchaeus’s willingness to make restitution was proof that his conversion was genuine.
  It was the fruit, not the condition, of his salvation.
  He judged his own crime severely,
  acknowledging that he was as guilty as the lowest common robber.
  Since much of his wealth he had apparently acquired fraudulently,
  this was a costly commitment.
  On top of that, he gave half of his goods to the poor.
  Zacchaeus had just found incomprehensible spiritual riches;
  and did not mind the loss of material wealth.
  He stands in stark contrast with the rich young ruler. (Luke 18: 18–24) Comment by John MacArthur.
• If Jesus was walking the streets of your community and looking for a notorious sinner,
  whose home would ne visit?
• What does it mean to you that Jesus personally knows you by name?

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, thank you that you call me by name and that incredibly you offer me the gift of new life.
Help me to be aware of my family, friends and neighbours who don’t know you.
Help me to reveal myself to them and show me practical ways in which I can be your hands and feet,
even if it is inconvenient.
Help me to serve and love others so that they would be drawn to you.
I pray in the name of Jesus.

Amen

Father, we pray for all who are sick and in need of comfort and healing, especially among our church family.
We pray for those awaiting long overdue treatment, and surgery;
for people suffering with long covid that they will be given
whatever physical, mental and emotional support they need.
We are saddened to hear of the devastation in India as a result of the pandemic.
Loving God, we ask you to comfort those who are bereft and mourning the loss of loved ones.
We pray for a quick response from the international community
so that vital life-saving equipment will be provided in order to save lives.
The virus in our midst has brought home to us the fact that we are one world;
we are each our brother’s keeper and none are safe until all are safe.

Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.

Amen

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
in a believer’s ear!
It sooths his sorrows, heals his wounds,
and drives away his fear.

…

Jesus! my Shepherd, Brother Friend,
my Prophet, Priest and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
accept the praise I bring.

John Newton (1725–1807)
CCL31580

Glynne Gordon-Carter