God's Pursuit of the Lost

Reading: Luke 19:1-10

Devotional: The story of Zacchaeus reminds us that Jesus actively seeks out those society deems unworthy. Like the Ninevites in Jonah's time, Zacchaeus was seen as an enemy by his own people. Yet Jesus' love transformed him. This narrative challenges us to see people as God sees them - not as irredeemable enemies, but as potential recipients of grace. Reflect on your own journey: How has God pursued you? How might He be calling you to participate in His mission of seeking and saving the lost? Consider reaching out to someone you've previously written off, recognizing that God's transformative love can reach anyone. Jesus didn't wait for Zacchaeus to clean up his life first - He invited Himself into the mess. This is how God works: He meets us where we are, not where we should be. When we partner with God in seeking the lost, we become conduits of His pursuing love in a broken world.

Reflection Question: Who has God placed in your path that you've been avoiding because they seem too far gone or too different?

Action Step: Initiate a conversation with someone you've previously dismissed, seeking to understand their story.

"The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope." - Timothy Keller