The Lost have a name

¹⁵ Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) NLT

On one of my morning walks I passed the driveway of a childcare home.  I noticed a container of yogurt on the driveway and a bag nearby with several containers in it.  I knew that cars would soon be driving over the bag and making an even larger mess.  Before I knew it, I had stopped and picked up the trash.

Now the trash was mine and I began looking for a place to get rid of it- not a garbage can in sight.  I saw other trash thrown along the road, but I couldn’t just throw the bag on the ground again.  As cars passed by, I realized that I was now being identified with the trash that I had picked up.  Finally I found the proper place to dispose of the trash.

When it comes to loving the lost, Jesus reveals at least two principles in the story with Levi.  First, Jesus owned his activity.  He could have declined the invitation to go eat at Matthew’s home.  Certainly he would have known that the Pharisees were watching for they were also among those following him.  But Jesus always moved in the direction of those who were hurting, needy and lost.  He came to seek and to save that which was lost.  In your sphere of influence, are there people who are needy, hurting, or lost?  Is it possible that you need “to pick up” a relationship with them?  The lost have a name…who are they for you?

Secondly, Jesus was not afraid to be identified with the disreputable.  We are so glad, because as a believer that is the condition in which he found all of us before becoming saved.  In our pursuit of following Jesus we can slip into sanitized Christianity that keeps us from engaging and loving those who are still in the dark.  This is not an easy task to be genuine with those lost without compromising our values.  But Jesus did it.

The key to engaging those yet to become followers of Jesus, is to be keenly aware of our own judgmentallism.  When we think we are better than someone else, they know it.  Our words of love will not match our reception of love.  But when we see all people as those who are loved by Jesus, we can see God’s kingdom come into our midst.

The good news of the gospel is still good.  There are many who need someone to share that there is life beyond what they have experienced.  Let’s take up some ownership for their salvation.  Let’s reject pride.  Don’t let fear keep us from being able to spend enough time with the lost that they can experience Jesus unconditional love through us.

You are equipped for the task, because you are loved by Jesus