April 11, 2024

Troy, Montana is a wonderfully fascinating place for kids. Located in a remote part of Montana, for kids who love the outdoors, it’s like a dream come true. Ryker Webb thought so. The 3-year-old loved to play in his yard and chase bugs. It was that bug-finding love that caused him to venture out of his yard last June and explore the wooded area near his home. He turned over rocks and no doubt had a blast finding bugs he’d never seen before. But Ryker had no idea that as he moved further and further into the woods, he wouldn’t be able to find his way home. He was also oblivious to the fact that there were more than bugs in these woods. There were mountain lions and bears. Ryker’s adventure lasted two days. He was eventually found in a shed near a cabin deep in the woods. He was dirty and hungry, but otherwise healthy. His family and friends were beside themselves with joy when he was brought home. Ryker wasn’t a bad kid. He was just lost.
That’s how Jesus saw Zacchaeus. Others considered Zacchaeus to be an evil man. They saw him as a horrible person who made their lives miserable. Many probably believed that he LIKED being the way he was. But Jesus saw him differently. Jesus saw Zacchaeus as someone who had simply gotten lost. He got caught up chasing success or money or a sense of security, much like Ryker got caught up chasing bugs. The deeper into the woods of wealth and affluence he went, the more confused he became. He had no idea how to find his way home. Until the day Jesus found him and brought him safely back. I
wonder how our attitude and approach would change if we saw people as Jesus did—as lost, instead of “bad.” I wonder if it would change how we see ourselves? Bad people need to be punished. Bad people need to be avoided. There’s no hope for bad people because that’s just who they are. Lost people can be found. Lost people can be brought home. When we see people as lost, it stirs our compassion, and we want to be a part of the search party that brings them back. Who knows, maybe there’s a scared Ryker waiting for one of us at work, at home, or in our neighborhood. Jesus’ mission will never become our mission until we see people the way Jesus saw them. Lost. That’s God’s Word for you today.