Notorious Sinners

During my coffee time with the Jesus today, I was surprised what stood out to me in the gospel reading from Luke 15:1-10. The phrase, "notorious sinners often came to listen." Stop and picture the most notorious sinner you know. Now, imagine them sitting at the feet of Jesus again and again.

He sees through the darkness in me.

This habit disgusted the church people. The religious leaders. The ones who knew Scripture. This familiar scene made them complain to Jesus. They couldn't stand that He was associated with known sinners.

Lord, what was it about You that made notorious screw ups come to you often? I know what You taught was clear truth---and not anything a worldly mindset would be attracted to. You told them they had to repent. Go a different way. Give up their life of sin and follow You! Yet, these sinners, were drawn to listen to you often---aggravating the religious leaders to no end.

You weren't ashamed to be with them. You didn't try and meet with them secretly or hold special meetings for them. You were simply with them teaching them. You 'associated' with them and everyone knew it.
You didn't do it for show.
You just were You. Love. 
Available to all.
And the sick came. Soul sick, heart sick, sick sick, weary sick, tired sick, sin sick...they came and You loved them.
Prisoners.
Captives.
Oppressed.

People who the "church" labeled as despised and hopeless. A waste of time.

Dear Sweet Jesus, You're inviting me to see that people with bad reputations are Your specialty. You teach them Yourself. You search them out. With You they are safe and open for healing, freedom, grace. You're inviting me to see that the 'notorious sinners' in my family (including me!) are being taught by You.

In Your eyes, there is never hopelessness reflected. There is never an expression that communicates: LOST CAUSE.

You are the power of love that frees, that heals, that restores, that searches, that finds, that carries lost lambs on your own shoulders into the safe home of Your heart as You live in ours.

Lord Jesus, my Abba, I pray that all of us notorious sinners would come often to listen to You! That we would realize again and again the lengths you go to find Your lost children---and may we celebrate fully when You carry the repentant home (to Your true Church). I pray that I/we would be associated with notorious sinners because they are drawn to Your home in our hearts.

Your heart is FOR the lost; my heart can be hard against the lost. Thank You for Your pursuit. Thank You for carrying me as I repent of my sin of unbelief that notorious sinners will be saved by You.

The educated scrutinized Your love, the sinners experienced it. The religious dismissed the lost, You sat with them often. They wrote them off as evil, You wrote them in as Loved. Give me ears to hear.

Listen.