Face Against The Glass

• Printable Version - Share on Facebook - Posted by Dion Todd November 30, 2015 - Filed in Devotional - 9,785 views
  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!