Good morning people with a message

It’s too easy for us as Christians, especially those working in a “Christian ministry environment”, to lose touch with ‘sinners’. It’s too easy in our Church meetings for us to focus on it being nice and in order and forget our focus on those who really need to hear the message God has given us, knowing this is sometimes messy and an interruption to our plans. It’s too easy to forget Jesus’ example to us.

Luke 15:1-2 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathered around to hear Him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

This is such a powerful word picture for us today. Here’s Jesus about to speak and when you look at the crowd gathered around you would be surprised by the people who are there. These are not good, Church-attending Believers, this crowd is made up of ‘sinners’. And why are they there? To mock, ridicule, question and blaspheme? No. These ‘sinners’ are there to ‘hear Him’; they are there to listen to Jesus. What a different yet refreshing story!

Then we see the religious leaders of the day who focus so much on ‘things being done right and in order’ and we see they are upset and complaining to each other. Why? Is it because Jesus was not allowing enough time for worship or He was watering down the message? No. They were upset because Jesus welcomed sinners and He even had the nerve to hang out with them and eat with them! This is clearly not right for a religious person and Jesus should have known better!

May we hear the clear message of this passage: Jesus loves the lost. In fact He loves them so much He hung out with them and built relationship so that when He spoke, they wanted to listen. Why? Because they knew He was genuinely interested in them. May this become the focus and prayer of our lives.

When was the last time you had a meal with a ‘sinner’ and simply loved them?