You Matter to God (2)

Intro

One of the greatest mental and emotional needs we have is to feel valuable… that our life matters… that we are worthwhile and that we made a difference.

Life cycle - start work… build a career and or wealth… then start trying to do something that matters.

In our society today, we typically find our self worth in four things.

Appearance

How do I look? …. If I look good I am good.

Achievement

What have I accomplished? How successful I am am…

Approval

How many friends on social media… how many clicks I get on something…

Affluence

What all do I own… how much have I made? What kind of car… house?

The problem with all of these is that they do not last.

Looks change.

Achievements fade or are surpassed by others.

People we think will be around forever leave…

Wealth can decline.

So what should we build our self-worth on? What do you do when you are old, ugly and broke? Not much if your worth and value comes from your appearance, achievement, approval or affluence.

If you want to have a healthy self-esteem that will last, you have to build it on something that will not change… You have to build it on what God thinks about you.

So tonight, I want us to look at a story that shows us what god thinks about us. It the story of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus.

Luke 19:1–4 NLT

1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

Z wasn’t trying to talk with Jesus, He just wanted to see him pass by. But if there ever was a man who needed a boost of his self-esteem, it was Z.

Of the four ways we tend to judge ourselves, he failed on 3/4 of them.

Z didn’t like his appearance. He was very short… maybe the shortest guy in the city. The Greek indicates that not only was he short in stature, but that his body dod not grow our of the features of a child. Can you imagine how he must have been bullied growing up?

Z was hated by everyone. He was the chief tax-collector of that area. Tax-collectors had their own category of sin in the Bible. As a tax collector, he was also seen as a traitor to the Jews because he was working for the romans. He most likely was disowned by his family and friends. He could not attend worship. He was a little lower than a murderer. On top of that, he was the chief tax-collector which meant he had others scamming for him.

Z hated himself. You can’t feel good about yourself or your work if you have a guilty conscience. He knew he was ripping people off and deep down, he knew it was wrong.

So here we have a guy who was wealthy, but hated himself. He was lonely and miserable. But the day he encountered Jesus, everything changed.

Today we are going to look at what made the difference. So if you need to feel less confused, more confident, and more loved, you came to the right place. If you are feeling down on yourself, things are not going in the right direction… you are in the right place.

How can we know that we have hope even when everything seems to be going wrong? Let’s look at Z.

The story of Zacchaeus gives us three evidences of how much you matter to God.

Three Evidences of How Much You Matter to God.

These are three fundamental truths we can base our self worth on.

1. No matter how insignificant I feel, Jesus notices me.

No matter how insignificant you feel today... how little you feel... how powerless you feel... if no one ever notices you.... Jesus Notices you.

Z was a wealthy but lonely man who had a very poor self-esteem. He wanted to see Jesus but he was so small, he never would have seen him above the crowd. Z did 2 things a wealthy middle eastern man would not do. (1) He ran through the crowd. (2) He climbed a tree. These were things children, not grown men did. He runs ahead and climbs a tree hoping to get to see Jesus.

He knew there was something about Jesus that he needed. So as Jesus was walking through the crowd with all of the buildings around, this happened…

Luke 19:5 NLT

5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Jesus, stops, looks up an calls Z. Can you imagine how Z must have felt? He is lower than low and Jesus just called him by name. His heart must have been about to jump out of his chest.

Nancy Chernin and Pres Ford.

Z must have been about to faint and fall out of that tree.

How did Jesus know to stop and look up?

God knows where you are 24 hours per day and he has not forgotten you.

God knows where you are today, where you were yesterday and where you are going tomorrow.

He knows everything you have ever done… every thought, word or deed and he loves you anyway. He loves you more than you can imagine.

Luke 12:6–7 MSG

6 “What’s the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. 7 And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.

Perhaps the deepest expression of love is attention. When you give someone your attention, you are showing them love. Love is giving attention and because God loves you, he gives you his attention. He never takes his eyes off of you.

For most of you, that’s something we long for.

Remember when you were a kid and you did something, we went look mommy… We still do that… social media… likes.

So listen, no matter how insignificant you may feel, Jesus notices you.

2. No matter what anyone else says, Jesus affirms me.

All of his life Z had been made fun of, put down and rejected… for his looks and then because of his job. He was corrupt, dishonest and people hated him. People probably told stories about him all around Jericho. So he had poor self-esteem.

Not only did Jesus stop and look up at him, Jesus called him by name.

Luke 19:5 NLT

5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Imagine the shock Z must have felt. He probably almost fell out of the tree. Jesus not only stopped and looked up at him, but called him by name. No one had told Jesus his name, but he knew it.

God not only notices where you are, He knows who you are.

He knows everything about you, both big and small. There is nothing about you that God doesn’t know.

When Jesus called Z by name, it shocked eveyrone.

Because Jesus knew the name of the biggest scoundrel in town.

Because of what his name meant. Z means pure one. A was everything but pure. He was a crook.

Just like God looked at Jacob and renamed him Israel because he saw something in him, Jesus looked at Z ad saw something different in him from what everyone else saw.

Jesus didn’t put him down for what he had done, he spoke life to him. Jesus knew…

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Before you were born, God had plans and purposes for your life. Unfortunately, many people never accomplish what God wanted them to because they make the wrong choices. You see, God gives us the choice, to follow and only him or live life our won way.

God didn’t create you to exist. He created you to do good things with your life… to make a difference.

Another thing Paul said in this passage is that you are God’s masterpiece. You are not just another human off an assembly line. You were created different from anyone else with gifts and abilities that God wants you to use to make a difference.

Check this out in Isa 49:16

Isaiah 49:16 NLT

16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.

Your name is on the palm of his hands. So when Jesus looks at his nail scarred hands, he thinks of you. He doesn’t just think about you, he loved you enough to die ona cross for you. You matter to God.

It doesn’t matter what people have said about you, Jesus affirms you and loves you.

Some of you have had some really mean things said about you over the years and you keep replaying those tapes in your head... You’ll never amount to anything... I’m embarrassed you’re my child... You’re a failure... You will never amount to anything.

Those are lies! Even though they may have come from people who were supposed to love you. They are lies.

Are you going to believe what God say about you, or a bully on the school yard, an ex boss or ex spouse??? Are you going to believe God or what others say about you?

Jesus told Z that he was important and even called him pure one. Jesus saw what he cold become not what he was. Maybe you have experienced rejection, even at home much like Z. the Psalmist says in Psa 27:10

Psalm 27:10 NLT

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.

There are no illegitimate children. Parents may say you were an unplanned pregnancy, but god planned you.

Even if someone calls you names, Jesus calls you by your name.

No matter how insignificant you may feel, Jesus notices you, he affirms you and calls you by your name.

3. No matter what I have done, Jesus wants me.

It doesn’t matter what you have done… Jesus wants a relationship with you.

Z’s appearance made him feel lonely and insecure. His accusers made him feel bitter and resentful. But it was Z’s sins that made him feel guilty and ashamed.

Jesus once again shocked everyone when he told Z he wanted to go to his house for dinner.

Luke 19:5 NLT

5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

This was unthinkable to the crowd. Out of all the people he could have picked, Jesus picked the biggest sinner in that crowd and invited himself over for dinner.

The reaction was swift.

Luke 19:7 NCV

7 All the people saw this and began to complain, “Jesus is staying with a sinner!”

I’m sure there was an emphasis on SINNER.

Jesus knew Z was carrying enormous amounts of guilt just like some of you are, and he like you would never have presumed to have invited Jesus to his house. He would be thinking, “I’m not good enough to have Jesus in my house.” You may feel the same way.

But you are wrong because relationship with Jesus is not based on you being good enough, but on Jesus being good enough and what he did on the cross for you and I.

You may have a lot of things you are ashamed of, but Jesus is more interested in changing you than condemning you.

Listen, we are all selfish until God gets hold of us. Jesus wants you to know him and his love and to love him and have a relationship with him.

ILL – Prodigal Son Story – tell the story.

His dad did not say I told you so... He accepted him back. Some of you think that if you go to the Lord with all you have done, he is going to give you a lecture at best and reject you at the worst. If you think that, You do Not understand God at all.

No matter what you have done, when you turn to the Lord – He wants you. He wants to have a relationship with you.

He gives you GRACE. It’s when God gives you what you don’t deserve. You may come to him with some dirt in your life, but you are still valuable to the Lord.

No matter what you have done, you never lose your value to the Lord.

Knowing all of this... knowing that God notices everything in your life... that he cares about you... that he is always watching and that he always affirms you even when you reject him…

With the God who made you and a God who has a purpose for your life and a God who loves you that much waiting with open arms, give me one logical reason why you shouldn’t give every part of your life to Jesus Christ from this day forward. Give me one logical reason why you shouldn’t do that! There is none. It would be foolish to turn down God... the one who loves you more than anyone.

How should we respond to Jesus?

Luke 19:6 NLT

6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.

Z was saved before he hit the ground. He knew he couldn’t find a better deal than Jesus so he took it.

The result in Z was immediate. After lunch Z stood and said,

Luke 19:8–9 NLT

8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.

Look at the change in Z. Because Jesus didn’t condemn him, but gave him grace, Z was changed. He gave everything back that he had stolen from people.

Z was a changed man because he had a changed heart and he showed it publically by giving everything he stole back.

God wants you to make a personal commitment to him, and it will impact your public actions. One action is to be Baptized.

Altar

Maybe you are here tonight, and you are carrying things you are ashamed of, Jesus wants to forgive you and change you. But we have to be like Z, we have to give ourselves to Jesus.

Jesus notices you… he affirms you and calls you by name… and he wants a relationship with you. All you have to do is to give yourself to Jesus.