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Face Against The Glass

  • When Jesus heard it, he said to them, 'Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' Mark 2:17 WEB

    Jesus walked up to a tax collectors booth and told the man sitting there, 'Follow Me!' and he got up and followed Jesus. Tax collectors were local people who worked with the Roman occupiers to enforce taxes on their subdued lands, and the local people despised them. Tax collectors had their own social status well below prostitutes, thieves, and sinners.

    The tax collector named 'Levi' became an apostle of Jesus and later wrote the gospel of Matthew (Matt. 9:9). Like Simon was called Peter, Levi was called Matthew. Jesus saw the heart of Matthew beating inside of Levi, while others did not. When Jesus called, Matthew immediately rose up and followed Him, even though he had a lucrative position. He would have been the wealthiest of the disciples.

    Matthew made a great feast for Jesus and invited a large crowd of tax collectors to come as well. While Jesus reclined at the table with them, the Pharisees complained to His disciples saying 'Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? (Luke 5:30). Then Jesus answered 'Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'

    The religious shunned such people and avoided them, while Jesus left the religious group and intentionally sought out the lost. Jesus looked forward to spending time with the lowest of the low, the lost, the outcast, the black sheep. He actively sought them out.

    Zacchaeus was another tax collector on another day. He was too short to see Jesus over the crowd, so he climbed up a tree to get a better view. Jesus walked right up to the tree and said 'Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house' (Luke 19:5).

    Again the holy onlookers complained. Who does He think He is? Doesn't He know that He should be out here with us? Being that they could not eat with sinners, they stood on the outside, looking in at Jesus and watching Him eat another great meal without them. Instead of God coming back to you, you must return to Him.

    What happened to cause people to look down on God's behavior with disdain? This group of people had become so holy that they felt like the Son of God did not live up to their standards anymore. I am not sure what is wrong there, but something sure ain't right.

    Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, but we sometimes lose sight of this immutable fact. God hates sin, but He loves us sinners and welcomes us with wide open arms. He actively seeks us out. I once was lost, and now I am found because He sought me out one night while playing music at a party.

    Let us welcome everyone and God will wash them as needed. The Holy Spirit will convict the heart of sin when the right time comes, but let us never exclude groups of people from our religion, lest one day we find that God is actually over there eating with them, and it is us on the outside with out face pressed against the glass.

    Prayer: Father help me see those in my path that I can show Your love to. Protect me, guide me, give me the wisdom and tact to know when and where. Speak to me and through me. Share Your heart with me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: Good morning! The highlighted group of the week is: the Haven of Hope! This group is a place of refuge for anyone who is suffering from the effects of abuse. Abuse can come in various forms including physical, sexual, mental, and spiritual. The Haven of Hope is a private group, so there may be a bit of delay before the group leader approves your join request. We encourage you to take advantage of this resource if you are dealing with the effects of abuse. ALSO, for those interested in some reading, Pastor Dion has reduced the price of his books for the holidays! To see the books and pricing, go to the "Pastor''''s Corner" link on the site and scroll down to the Bookstore :). Have a blessed day!

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31 comments
  • 1
Mark Duell
Mark Duell Amen. Thank you for the reminder. We as Christians tend to turn the other way. Wether it is because we think we are better than them as the Pharisees did or as in my case I'm afraid of confrontation. I'm worried I'll end up in an arguement and ruining the testimony. So I'll avoid sharing unless I know I can have a nice civil discussion. Someone that has already been prepared  to listen. Something I still have a lot of work left to do.
November 30, 2015
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Belinda Lee
Belinda Leeedited: November 30, 2015 Thank you for this reminder. Amen. I was just discussing this with my mother in terms of the one lost sheep. Have a blessed day!
November 30, 2015
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Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer Yes Lord, amen. 
November 30, 2015
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Nicole summers
Nicole summers Amen!
November 30, 2015
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David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles Amen! I think it is easy to get caught up in judging others if we aren't careful.  This is a good reminder to always include the least of the least:) Thank you Pastor for these inspired words as we all need God's grace and shouldn't be looking down on anyone. Prayer: Father help me see those in my path that I can show Your love to. Protect me, guide me, give me the wisdom and tact to know when and where. Speak to me and through me. Share Your heart with me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
November 30, 2015
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David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles I always love your prayers Pastor :) 
November 30, 2015
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Celestina Ndunda
Celestina Ndunda This is a great message. I pray this prayer Lord in agreement with your servant Pst. Dion, that no day shall pass without me encouraging someone along my path.
November 30, 2015
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen
November 30, 2015- Edit- Delete
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Gail Sellu
Gail Sellu Amen, in Jesus' name I pray! Thank you Pastor Dion for the word for today! 
November 30, 2015
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Laura B. Martinez
Laura B. Martinez Another beautiful message. May we all continue to spread Jesus' message to those who want to change.
November 30, 2015
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen
November 30, 2015- Edit- Delete
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Julie Schneider
Julie Schneider Another really great devotion! I pray everyday for God to use me. Thank you Pastor Dion!
November 30, 2015
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen, Julie, I pray too that I can be an instrument for Jesus to use as He see's fit for my life. Love and hugs.
November 30, 2015- Edit- Delete
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Melissa-Peter Busse
Melissa-Peter Busse God actively sought me out, a sinner. 
November 30, 2015
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen
November 30, 2015- Edit- Delete
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Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt Amen!, this is so good, a great reminder why Jesus came. I thank God for sending His Son to die for my sin's and to give me a new life by raising His Son from the dead for my justification. It is so important to wait on God to show me who to minister to. I do believe that God brings others across my path that might not be who I think I can minister to. What a good lesson that Jesus Christ ministered, and ate with the sinners. Help me LORD to listen to your voice, and to love the unloving and broken hearted, be it unsaved or a Christian having a hare time life.
November 30, 2015
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen, I pray too that I will always treat everyone the same, and love all the same, whether sinner or saint, it doesn't matter we are all made in the image of God and He awaits with arms open wide for the lost to come to Him and may we ask Christians just love them and not judge them.
November 30, 2015- Edit- Delete
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Iris Parlin
Iris Parlin Thank you Pastor.
November 30, 2015
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Carol Pady
Carol Pady Amen! We need to remember where we were when we found Jesus, so we look upon the lost with compassion and not condemnation!
November 30, 2015
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen and amen.
November 30, 2015- Edit- Delete
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Karen Pasquinelli
Karen Pasquinelliedited: November 30, 2015 Amen!!  Thank you Pastor Dion for the reminder of why Jesus came.  Jesus found me a sinner he held out his hand I took it and he helped me up, even when I slipped he held out his hand and helped me up. Praise Jesus for his compassion and understanding.
November 30, 2015
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen, He is always right there when we fall, to help us up and help us go forward for Him.
November 30, 2015- Edit- Delete
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Sandra Rhodes
Sandra Rhodes This really convicted me in the way I look at Muslims . I know now that I should be praying that  they would seek the face of JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD and be saved ! I always thought I  was the one feeling like the outsider , never seeming to fit anywhere , but now I know I judged unfairly !  
November 30, 2015
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Matthew  Materazzi
Matthew Materazzi edited: November 30, 2015 Amen
November 30, 2015
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Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield This is a VERY timely message and really made me think! I was raised Catholic, and sometimes feel the preists behave just as the Pharisees did , and this frustrates me.I think if Jesus was to return now, He'd be viewed much  the same as He was in the old days, for there are certain groups of people the church does not welcome. Jesus welcomed and accepted EVERYONE! We need to stop thinking that we are holier than God and learn from His Son!
November 30, 2015
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen
November 30, 2015- Edit- Delete
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Cheryl Wilson
Cheryl Wilson Amen!
November 30, 2015
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Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza Sinner or saint we are all children of GOD. JESUS CHRIST came to save the sinners and that includes me. Thank you LORD GOD for saving me and giving me a new life a new beginning a new hope  I love you my LORD GOD with all my heart and soul. Thank you Pastor for this beautiful message/reflections
November 30, 2015
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Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese Thank you dear Pastor, for the great message!
November 30, 2015
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Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thank you!  Lord, please give me this courage, wisdom, and integrity.
December 1, 2015
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Kath Paro
Kath Paro Dion~ Thank you for your message  It helps guide me through my day
December 5, 2015