This week's readings are 1 Timothy 1.12–17 and Luke 15.1–10 (I'm really sorry, but apparently biblegateway.com is not currently available in the UK/EU for technical reasons, so I can't provide a link this week!)

Both readings are about God's driving purpose of reconciling all things to themself. That reconciliation is what the entirety of scripture is about, and the whole purpose of the incarnation, ministry, life, death, resurrection and enthronement of Christ. Reconciliation. Of all things. To God. That's the point, purpose, and fundamental of our faith.

Extraordinary then, isn't it, that some of us think we're not good enough? Or that God isn't interested in us, or in our lives, joys, struggles, hopes, and dreams. That we are too small, or too bad, or too different, or too whatever...

It's simply not true.

Jesus in his parables rebukes the Pharisees and the scribes for thinking anything would keep him away from those in need – as they grumble about him eating with 'sinners' he responds with the lost sheep. God is like a crazy shepherd, he says, who will risk financial ruin to find one runaway lamb; God is like a woman who will put aside the myriad pressing tasks of her day to frantically search her house for a lost treasure. Nothing, in other words, is more important than finding precisely those people who think they're beyond the pale, and outside the reach of grace.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul writes his affirmation of the same. 'I know the grace of God is outrageous,' he says (to paraphrase him somewhat!), 'precisely because it found me! Me! A man who denied Christ, who hunted the church to destroy it, who watched as saints were martyred and enjoyed it. A man guilty not of violence and hatred in general – but specifically towards the person of Jesus.' It is because he knows how far he had fallen, that Paul knows exactly who it is Jesus is working to reconcile, and how far he is willing to go. Everyone. As far as it takes.

Reconciliation of all things, means all things – even me, even you. No matter who you are, where you've been, or what you've done.

I've quoted it many times before, but I'm going to do so again, because it's there right between the eyes this week: there is nothing you can do to make God love you any more, and there is nothing you can do to make him love you any less.

He loves because he created you, and there is nothing you can do about it. Tough. So how about enjoying being loved and treasured this week, by the creator of the universe? Take a moment to draw close, be wrapped in his embrace, and relax. Be reconciled. You may even find that those parts of you that made you think you couldn't be get washed out in the process.