Jesus attracted the company of tax collectors and sinners. He spent time with them. He ate with them. And, the religious leaders criticized him for it. From the perspective of the Pharisees, presence equaled endorsement. For them, the fact that Jesus spent time with sinners meant that he was endorsing their lifestyle. In response, Jesus told three parables: the lost coin the lost sheep and the lost son. Jesus’ message was clear. God doesn’t avoid the lost or the messiness of their lives. God joyfully pursues the lost.

Our culture (even the church culture) is less concerned about who we eat dinner with or hang out with than those in Jesus’ day. Our avoidance of entering into the messiness of the lives of others is mostly self-imposed. It takes time to pursue relationships. And it’s just easier if those we pursue share our beliefs, our interests and maybe even our stage of life. The pursuit of that which is lost can be demanding, but Jesus says that’s where the joy is. It’s seeing others not as messiness to be avoided but as treasures waiting to be found. It’s seeing others the same way that God sees us. It’s joyfully pursuing others the same way that God joyfully pursued us.

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