Called by Love

Focus Statement

God's call pierces our isolation,

inviting us down from life's sycamores.

Like Zacchaeus, we're transformed from self-interest to divine grace,

our souls restored by the Master Artist's touch.

Point of Relation

Picture a portrait hidden in an attic,

a canvas that bears the weight of a man's sins.

This is the tale of Dorian Gray, a man who traded his soul for eternal youth.

In Oscar Wilde's haunting novel,

Dorian's painted image ages and decays while he remains forever young,

his outward beauty masking an increasingly corrupt soul.Dorian revels in his seemingly consequence-free existence, indulging every whim and desire.

Yet with each transgression,

each act of cruelty or selfishness,

his portrait grows more grotesque.

It becomes a mirror of his true self,

reflecting the ugliness of his choices

that his face no longer shows.

But unlike Dorian,

we can't hide our true selves behind a façade of eternal youth.

Our actions, our choices, they shape us,

visible for all to see.

Yet, and here's where our story truly diverges from Wilde's cautionary tale:

where Dorian found only corruption and despair,

we encounter something radically different:

a Master Artist who sees beyond our flaws,

who calls us by name,

inviting us down from our trees of isolation and shame.

Things to Consider

Friends, we're masterpieces hidden beneath neglect.

Like Zacchaeus, we might feel invisible.

But God sees beyond our limits,

calling us from isolation.

What tree hides you?

How might welcoming God transform your life?

As God's brush strokes restore you,

how will you become an agent of grace?

Consider:

How will your encounter with the Master Restorer reshape your world?

What Scripture Says

In the bustling streets of Jericho,

a painting of humanity unfolds on the canvas of life.

Amidst the crowd, a diminutive figure scrambles up a sycamore tree,

desperate for a glimpse of the Master Restorer.

This is Zacchaeus,

a tax collector, his soul marred by greed, s

hame and isolation, a living portrait of corruption

much like Dorian Gray's hidden painting.

Jesus, the divine artist, approaches the tree.

God's gaze falls upon Zacchaeus,

seeing beyond the surface damage to the masterpiece beneath.

"Zacchaeus," Jesus calls,

His voice a brush stroke of grace,

"come down immediately.

I must stay at your house today."

The crowd murmurs,

their judgment a layer of grime obscuring Zacchaeus' true worth.

Yet Jesus recognizes the INHERENT VALUE in this flawed creation.

Jesus begins the restoration process,

cutting through years of accumulated sin and shame.

Zacchaeus scrambles down, welcoming Jesus with joy.

This invitation to table fellowship

initiates a divine restoration,

revealing the true image

hidden beneath years of self-serving choices.

The scripture unfolds like a before-and-after reveal of a masterpiece.

Before Jesus' touch,

Zacchaeus was an agent of the state,

his actions adding layers of corruption to his soul.

But in the presence of the Master Restorer,

a miraculous transformation occurs.

"Look, Lord!" Zacchaeus declares,

"Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

This is not mere restitution;

it's a complete overhaul of Zacchaeus' being.

The greedy tax collector becomes a generous benefactor,

the cheater becomes an agent of justice.

Where once there was corruption,

now there is integrity.

Where there was shame and isolation,

now there is community.

The restoration is so complete that Jesus proclaims,

Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham."

In this narrative,

we witness the antithesis of Dorian Gray's tragic tale.

While Gray's portrait bore the weight of his sins,

Zacchaeus experiences a transformation that begins in his heart and manifests in his actions.

Jesus, the ultimate anti-Dorian Gray,

brings our sins into the light,

restoring us to our true, intended beauty.

This story echoes God's words in Ezekiel 34:11-12:

"I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.

As a shepherd looks after the scattered flock when present with them,

so will I look after my sheep."

Jesus, embodying this promise,

sought out Zacchaeus, the lost sheep,

and through divine artistry,

restored him to the flock.

In Zacchaeus' transformation,

we see the power of God's restorative grace.

It's a grace that fundamentally changes us

from the inside out.

Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying Grace are on prominent display,

like a painting at the Philly Museum of Art.

What This Means for You

Picture yourself perched in a sycamore tree,

feeling small and unseen.

But God calls your name, inviting you down from isolation.

Like Zacchaeus, you might feel the weight of your choices,

but God's grace isn't about hiding flaws.

It's about transformation in the light of love.

Imagine your name in Scripture:

Jesus calling your name, inviting you to ”hurry down."

How does it feel to be seen by the divine Artist?

As you open the door to God's presence,

prepare for restoration.

Your true colors emerge – vibrant and unique.

This isn't just about feeling good;

it's about becoming an agent of God's grace.

How will your encounter with the Master Restorer change your actions?

What tree have you climbed to hide?

What would it mean to welcome God into your life?

Remember, you're a masterpiece in progress,

being lovingly restored by the greatest Artist of all.

What This Means for Us

As a church,

we're called to be apprentices of Master Restorer,

not Dorian Grays.

We don't hide our flaws or others' in secret attics,

but bring them into the light of God's transforming love.

Like Jesus with Zacchaeus,

we seek out those perched in trees of isolation,

calling them by name into community.

Our encounters with God should change us

from agents of self-interest to agents of grace.

Let's be a canvas where every brushstroke matters,

where the overlooked become integral to the masterpiece.

As God restores us,

may we become instruments of restoration in our community and beyond.

Amen? Amen.