Because I pastor a church, my life is filled with all kinds of people. Like you and everyone else, of course. But, because I have prayed for a pastor’s heart, I tend to see people somewhat differently than others. I see people at the Y where I work out; at the store when I shop (as little as possible 🙂 ); at the gas station; and especially at the church where I work, as more than walking and breathing bodies. I see broken people. I see hurting people. I see abused people. I see people wearing masks (which I sometimes cannot unveil). I see laughing people. I see addicted people. I see godly people. And, of course, there are more. But each one has a story. Like me. Like you.

Every story has a past. Every story has a present. And, Lord willing, every story will have a future. The Christ-follower’s story is different-our story begins with Jesus. His life, His story, is mine. It is yours. That makes all the difference in the world! Too many are living their story in the past, hanging on to shame and guilt from “the ghost of Christmas past.” I see broken people mired in the mud of their past life-a life lived with or without Jesus. The pain of abuse, the remembrance of sin in the past hovers and weighs us down.

But the difference is the Christ-follower has a new story. I loved reading the story of Zacchaeus this morning (and not because I am tall and he is short). 🙂 I love it because of the life-change that occurred because Jesus entered his world. I love reading how the religious leaders tried to downplay his changed life and Jesus wouldn’t play along. “Salvation has come to this house today,” He said. Then He sticks the dagger in further by throwing His support behind Zacchaeus while also telling His very own purpose: “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Lk. 19:9 NLT). Isn’t that cool? Jesus’ story became Zacchaeus’ story.

Jesus didn’t see Zacchaeus, the sinful tax-collector. No, Jesus saw a man changed by the power of His life in him. Not one based on the failure of his past sin and story, but one based on Jesus’ story of change. I have that story. You have that story. Let’s tell it-the right one, the new one! Not the old one based on the lies of shame and regret, but the new one based on the everlasting love and faithfulness of God.