SITTING WITH SINNERS
Written by: Jenny Calvert
And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house,
many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with
Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. When the
scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax
collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax
collectors and sinners?” When
Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a
physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but
sinners.”
Mark
2:15-17 (NRSV)
Every Sunday Norma would come to church with her
children. She read her Bible, prayed and would volunteer, but her husband never
was at her side. Why? Because most likely he was in the local
bar. He was an alcoholic. Norma never
gave up her hope that God would answer her prayers for his salvation. Many
years later after all their children were grown, she was still praying and
hoping.
In the meantime, there sat her husband in the bar
where one day, God met him. Over a
drink, God spoke to his heart. And it
was right there in that bar where Norma’s husband turned his life over to the
Lord. He got up, walked out of the bar, and never returned. After that he was right by Norma’s side in
church. He was a shining example of
someone lifted by God’s love, and Norma’s face was the face of pure joy and
gratitude.
God showed me that yes, Jesus does sit down with
the tax collectors and sinners. He also
showed me that we need to do the same.
Jesus set the example but many times we are afraid of what it would look
like if someone saw us sitting and eating with sinners. How will they hear if
we stay in our safe little cocoon? We
must spread the love of Jesus to all.
Dear Jesus,
Thank-you for setting such a good example. Help us to follow in you footsteps. Forgive
us for being afraid of going out and telling of your love to everyone.
In Your Son’s Name I pray,
Amen
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