“Then drew near unto him [Jesus] all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” (Luke 15:1-2).

Years ago, there was a bag lady in New York City who attended a preaching service at a Manhattan Rescue Mission. Afterwards in the line to receive soup, she mentioned to the preacher that she was now ready to give her life to Jesus Christ. She said, “I never knew until now that my name is in the Bible!”

The preacher smiled and asked, “What is your name?”

“Edith,” she said. “My name is Edith, and my name is in the Bible.”

The preacher said, “I’m sorry, Ma’am, but you must be mistaken. The name Edith never appears in the Bible.”

She said, “Oh yes it does! You read it just a few minutes ago.”

The preacher had been speaking from Luke 15, and the woman asked him to read again what he had preached on. He read verse 2, “This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.”

She said, “There it is! Jesus receiveth sinners and Edith with them!”

Indeed, the good news is that Jesus does receive sinners, and Edith, and George, and Kathy, and Frank, and Mary, and anyone else who comes to Him!

People matter to God! You matter to God! Jesus underscored the importance of every person to God with three stories in Luke 15 – a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. In each story, something of great value had been lost. When it is found, friends and neighbors are called to celebrate and rejoice together.

The point is clear – You matter to God! We are of such great value to Him that He gave His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, so that we could have forgiveness and new life in Christ through receiving Him.

Is your name in the Bible?