Despicable or Valuable?

I used to think that my relationship with God began with a realization that I am a detestable, wicked flesh creature, and that I was deserving of the worst things imaginable.  I was so detestable that even God, who was Love Himself, could not love me. 

I thought that if I could just be a better person, God would grant mercy, which would be good as long as my behavior stayed on that course.  In other words, I had to become less despicable, and show that I deserved His blessings by being a better person.  As long as I did this and did not "backslide", God would give me grace.

But Jesus shows us a completely different narrative.  We can see the Father's heart by seeing how Jesus valued those who were deemed despicable.  Look at how He favored people like Zacchaeus, the prostitute, the Samaritan, the demoniac, and others.  Look at the parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep, the prodigal son.  They were valuable enough that the Lord wants to find and restore what was not detestable, but valuable and lost.

Notice that what was lost never lost its value.  Notice how much the Lord wanted it.  Notice how He celebrates when the lost is restored.

God so loved the world (the lost coin, lost sheep, the son who had separated himself from his father), that He gave His Son, who would seek and save that which was lost.

Our salvation (wholeness and healing) is not just about turning a bad person into a good one, but it's bringing us home to our authentic self and our authentic way of relating to our Father who has loved us with an everlasting love.  We glory in the grace that's given to us, and we totally fall in love with God as we were created to be.  This is where we experience the saving, or wholeness and healing of our soul.  This is the shalom, where all is well.

In Christ, we find that we are lovable.  We are valuable.  We are God's offspring, deserving of good.  Identity is restored.  Our broken heart is healed, and we are made whole.