Overlooked But Not Forgotten: Why Reaching the Lost Starts at Home

The Mission Starts Here
For the past few weeks, I’ve been preaching about reaching into our communities and fulfilling the mission Jesus gave us. The series has been anchored in the Great Commission—Jesus’ call to go into all the world and make disciples. But I believe that mission doesn't start with a passport or a plane ticket.

It starts with where we are.
It starts with who we see every day.
It starts with the people most others overlook.

Today, I want to share a story that illustrates that beautifully. It’s found in Luke 19, and it’s one that many of us have known since we were children—the story of Zacchaeus. But I believe there’s more to Zacchaeus’ story than a catchy song and a sycamore tree. I believe this story teaches us something powerful about how we should approach the mission Jesus gave us.

Seeing What Others Don’t See
As Jesus was making His way toward Jerusalem—and ultimately toward the cross—He passed through the city of Jericho. Now imagine this with me: the streets are crowded, buzzing with people who want to see Him. There’s a swirl of excitement in the air.

But Jesus doesn’t stop for the crowd.

He stops for one man.
A man up in a tree.
A man most people had written off.

Zacchaeus was a tax collector—a chief tax collector, in fact. He worked for the Roman Empire, and he got rich by overcharging his own people. That made him not just unpopular, but hated. He was a traitor, a thief, and in the eyes of many, a lost cause.

But Jesus didn’t see what the crowd saw.
Jesus saw his heart.

Climbing Above the Crowd
Zacchaeus did something that stood out. He wanted to see Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So what did he do? He climbed a tree. That may sound simple, but let’s think about it.

Climbing trees isn’t exactly something most grown men do—especially wealthy men in expensive robes. But Zacchaeus didn’t care. He wanted to see Jesus, and he was willing to do whatever it took to put himself in a position to be seen.

And Jesus noticed.

Of all the people in Jericho, He stops, looks up, and calls Zacchaeus by name.
“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

There’s an urgency in Jesus’ words—“I must stay.” Not, “Can I?” Not, “Maybe later.” No. Jesus is saying, I cannot go any further until I’ve spent time with you.

And that right there teaches me something critical:

Jesus prioritized people over schedule.
He paused the mission to the many for the need of one.

The Power of Invitation
What I love most about Jesus in this moment is that He doesn’t preach a sermon to Zacchaeus. He doesn’t lecture him. He doesn’t shame him in front of the crowd. What does He do?

He invites Himself into Zacchaeus’ life.

And that invitation changes everything.

Zacchaeus responds with joy. He welcomes Jesus into his home. And before long, he’s confessing, repenting, and making things right—pledging to give half his possessions to the poor and repay anyone he cheated four times over.

Jesus didn’t demand repentance—His presence created space for repentance.
And that’s a model we need to follow.

Too often, we want people to repent before we build relationships with them. But Jesus shows us that relationships open the door to transformation—not the other way around.

Finding Our Own Zacchaeus
So here’s the question I’m left asking, and the question I pose to you:
Who is the Zacchaeus in your world?

Who’s the person others overlook?
Who’s climbing their own metaphorical tree—just trying to get a glimpse of something better?

Maybe it’s someone at work.
Maybe it’s a neighbor, or someone in your family.
Maybe it’s someone you’ve judged unfairly or avoided because they make you uncomfortable.

The truth is, evangelism doesn’t begin with a sermon—it begins with seeing people.
Seeing their pain. Seeing their value. Seeing what others don’t.

And then… extending an invitation.

Not necessarily to church.
Not necessarily to a Bible study.

Just into your life.

Take them to lunch. Grab coffee. Be present. Be kind. Be open.
Because your presence might be the very thing that opens their heart to Jesus.

We Can’t Save, But We Can Seek
At the end of the story, Jesus says something profound:
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

And while we can’t save anyone—only Jesus can do that—we can seek.

We can go where people are.
We can notice the ones the world ignores.
We can be the ones who say, “I must stay with you today.”

The mission doesn’t start in a distant land.
The mission starts here.
With one person.
With one relationship.
With one act of love.

Your Challenge This Week
So here’s your challenge:

Pray and ask God to place one person on your heart—someone who’s overlooked, hurting, or simply searching.

And then do something simple:
Reach out.
Build a bridge.
Start a conversation.

You never know whose life might be changed by the power of being seen.