The
Son of Man came to seek and to save what
was lost. --Luke 19:10
Thought:
Just when you thought that the
dreaded cliques of high school were in
the past, you went to work and
discovered that those private little
groups are worse than ever on the job.
In a Washington Post article,
Amy Joyce writes: "One employee recently
suggested the workplace is just like
high school, with the very defined
groups that haunted us in our teens."
Eating alone is not much fun, whether in
a school cafeteria or company lunchroom.
We all want and need good
friends. But while a friendship group
may be open to others, a clique is
usually closed. Many people, Christians
included, naturally drift toward being
exclusive. But God wants us to express
His heart of love for everyone.
Jesus revealed God the Father as
inclusive, welcoming all who will open
their hearts to Him. Remember the story
of Zacchaeus? As a chief tax collector,
he was no doubt one of the most despised
men in the city of Jericho. Getting rich
at the expense of others rarely puts a
person on the "Most Admired" list.
Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree,
hoping to catch a glimpse of the Man who
performed miracles. When Jesus saw him,
He said, "Zacchaeus, come down
immediately. I must stay at your house
today" (Luke 19:5).
And all the
people applauded, right? They cheered
the wonderful love of God that reaches
out to those most in need? Not exactly.
They muttered, "He has gone to be the
guest of a 'sinner'" (v.7).
Those words, intended as a stinging
criticism, were actually a compliment to
Jesus, confirming that He was on track
with His mission. When Zacchaeus
declared he would give half his wealth
to the poor and promised to pay back
anyone he had cheated, Jesus saw it as
evidence of a changed heart and said:
"Today salvation has come to this house
. . . . For the Son of Man came to seek
and to save what was lost" (vv.9-10).
If we've become private and
exclusive in our friendships, it's time
to clique out of that mindset so God can
open His arms to others through us.
Questions to consider:
***How have I become part of a
clique without realizing it?
***What negative characteristics of
Zacchaeus did Jesus look past when He
went to his home in Jericho?
***How can my group of close Christian
friends become more opento others?
There are no cliques in Christ.
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